HC Denies Urgent Listing Of Arvind Kejriwal's Plea, AAP To Hold Candle March In Delhi | Updates

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to launch a protest in all Assembly constituencies of Delhi on Sunday against Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED in the liquor scam case.

AAP will take out candle march and burn effigies in protest against “BJP’s dictatorship and illegal arrest of Delhi CM,” the party said in a statement.

Delhi High Court on Saturday refused Arvind Kejriwal’s plea for an urgent hearing challenging his arrest by the ED and the remand order passed by a trial court on Friday. The matter will be heard on March 27.

Earlier in the day, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal challenged his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the order of 6-day remand passed by a trial court on March 22, 2024, before the High Court of Delhi.

Approaching the Delhi High Court, the AAP national convenor challenged his arrest and the remand order, terming them illegal. Kejriwal has claimed that he is entitled to be released from custody immediately, seeking an urgent hearing from the acting chief justice of the high court by Sunday.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was sent to a 6-day ED custody on Friday till March 28 in the excise policy case. He was arrested by the ED from his residence on Thursday night after hours of questioning.

India Summons German Envoy Over Country’s Remark on Kejriwal’s Arrest

The External Affairs Ministry (EAM), earlier in the day, summoned a senior diplomat of the German Embassy to lodge its protest over the comments of the country’s foreign ministry on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after Germany issued an official statement and said the country has taken note of the matter.

The Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy, George Enzweiler, was today called by the MEA to register an official protest.

The External Affairs Ministry said that German foreign ministry spokesperson’s remarks were a “blatant interference in India’s internal matters”.

“India is a vibrant and robust democracy with the rule of law. As in all legal cases in the country, and elsewhere in the democratic world, law will take its course in the instant matter. Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted,” India said in its reaction.

As the political furore around Kejriwal’s arrest continues to grow, here are the latest developments unfolding in the case:

• AAP legal sources told News18 that they are constantly requesting an urgent hearing either by Sunday or the day after.
• Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal visited her husband at the ED headquarters today.
• Earlier in the day, Sunita Kejriwal on Saturday made her first appearance before the media and read out a letter from him. In the letter written from jail, Kejriwal said several forces trying to break India and also assured the people of Delhi that he would remain in their service.
• “There are several forces within and outside India that are weakening the country. We have to be alert, identify these forces and defeat them. Women in Delhi must be thinking that Kejriwal is behind bars. Who knows if they would get Rs 1000? I appeal to them to trust their brother, their son. No jail can keep him behind bars for long. I will come out soon and keep my promise,” Kejriwal wrote.
• BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj reacted to Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal’s message and said, “I can fathom her feelings, expressed by her today publicly. I would say that the only person responsible for that is Arvind Kejriwal…He has to be answerable for all women who have cried because of this liquor policy.”
• Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said Arvind Kejriwal is responsible for making his wife “speak with so much pain”. “It would have been better if they did a press conference the day Arvind Kejriwal was taking government facilities, home, car and security because he had taken a vow to not take these benefits. They should have done this press conference when they entered the grand bungalow, when Delhi’s taxpayers’ money was being wasted, when the youth of Delhi was given one bottle free with one or when the transaction of Rs. 100 crores was done by Arvind Kejriwal…” the BJP leader said.
• Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare in a letter said Kejriwal’s arrest is an outcome of his deeds and it was unfortunate that an agitation against corruption was used for political gain. He also released a letter written to Kejriwal by him at the time of Delhi liquor policy implementation.
• Earlier, another AAP leader Gulab Singh Yadav’s residence was raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, the probe agency clarified that the raids at Delhi MLA’s house are not currently related to the Excise policy case.
• These raids come on the day when Kejriwal, whom the ED arrested on Thursday in connection with the Liquor policy scam case, was sent to 6-day custody by a Delhi Court. Kejriwal will remain in ED’s remand for further interrogation until March 28.

Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal’s Surprising Show of Gratitude For ED Officials But Unhappy With Delhi Police Cop. Here’s Why

• Meanwhile, AAP leader Atishi while addressing media asked why the ED and CBI are not presenting a paper trail in the excise policy case and also questioned the role of Aurobindo Pharma owner Sharat Chandra Reddy in the case.
• “Where is the money trail? Where did the money go proceeds of crime were recovered from any leader, minister or worker of AAP Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in the same case two days back based on the statement of just one person – Sharat Chandra Reddy. He is the owner of Aurobindo Pharma. He clearly said that he never met or spoken to Kejriwal. As soon as he said that, he was arrested the next day by the ED,” Atishi said.
• The AAP leader also alleged a quid pro quo arrangement between the BJP government and Chandra adding that after being in jail for several months, he changed his statement and said he met Kejriwal over the excise policy matter. He was granted bail as soon as he said that,” she alleged.
• Amid this development, the opposition BJP has expressed concerns about the continuity of the chief ministerial position. However, AAP leader Atishi reiterated that Kejriwal will continue to serve as the Chief Minister of Delhi and govern the state even from within the confines of jail.
• On the other hand, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari strongly criticised the AAP’s stance, suggesting that jails are only meant for the operation of gangs and not for the administration of a government.
• Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organised a large-scale protest against Kejriwal’s arrest and has announced its plans to encircle Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Holi. The party leaders also decided not to celebrate Holi as a mark of protest.
• AAP leaders announced a gherao of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in protest against Kejriwal’s arrest on Holi.
• Another Aam Aadmi Party leader Ghulab Singh Yadav’s residence was also raided by ED on Saturday. However, ED says it is not connected to the excise policy case as of now.
• INDIA bloc to carry out a massive rally against Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by ED on March 31.
• AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that the Centre has closed all access to the AAP Head office at ITO, that too in the Model Code of Conduct. The party will approach EC, the leader added.
• AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said the party will soon approach the Election Commission of India.Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called Kejriwal’s arrest “politics of vengeance” adding that it is an attack on the constitution.
• German Foreign Ministry on Friday issued an official statement on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said the country has taken note of the matter. “We have taken note, India is a democratic country. We assume and expect that the standards relating to the independence of the Judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case,” the statement read.
• India, in a strong protest against Germany’s remarks, called it “blatant interference in India’s internal matters”
• Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar on Saturday threatened to expose Arvind Kejriwal and said that he would become an approver against him.
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday talked to  Kejriwal’s family over the phone, affirming their support.
• DMRC announced the re-opening of ITO Metro station and Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station after it was temporarily closed given AAP agitation.Kejriwal on Friday withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea challenging his arrest by the ED in connection with the excise policy case.
• The AAP supremo praised the treatment given  by ED officials to him after the arrest and said: “They behaved well with respect.”
• ED on Friday claimed that Kejriwal “used” the post of chief minister of Delhi to facilitate money laundering by the AAP, which is a “major beneficiary” of the proceeds of crimes generated in the alleged liquor scam case.
• Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia called for Kejriwal’s resignation and said “I believe that a man who has such huge allegations against him should step down from his post on moral grounds.”
• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said Arvind Kejriwal, who is in ED custody in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case, will be released and bring a revolution in the country.
• A local court has directed to preserve CCTV camera footage on a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking the removal of a Delhi Police officer deployed for security in the court for alleged misconduct.

The case pertains to the alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped after the allegations.

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were arrested by the ED earlier and are in judicial custody currently.