Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy.The Delhi High Court today rejected a plea seeking the removal of Arvind Kejriwal from his position as Chief Minister. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, leading the bench, said “let democracy take its own course”.
Arvind Kejriwal, presently held in Delhi’s Tihar jail following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on corruption charges, remains in judicial custody until April 15.
The court also declined to issue any directives to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena regarding the resignation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. “He (Mr Saxena) doesn’t need our guidance. We are nobody to advise him. He will do whatever he has to, in accordance with the law,” the High Court said.
The court’s decision came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Hindu Sena, urging the Lieutenant Governor to compel Kejriwal to step down. The petitioner was also reminded to prioritise matters of national interest over personal agendas and advised to seek recourse through appropriate channels if they wished to pursue the matter further.
The court dismissed similar pleas last week and in January preceding Kejriwal’s arrest.
Last week, the acting Chief Justice said the removal of a sitting Chief Minister lies beyond the scope of judicial intervention, emphasizing that such matters fall within the purview of other governmental branches to examine and act upon within the framework of the law.
Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy has stirred political controversy. The Opposition has condemned the arrest of a sitting Chief Minister and other senior political leaders, including the Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s K Kavitha.
Arguing for interim relief on Wednesday, Kejriwal’s legal counsel, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, questioned the timing of the arrests, asserting that they seemed politically motivated rather than legally justified.
“Why this urgency? I am not talking about politics… am talking about law,” senior advocate Singhvi said, arguing the arrest was meant to “demolish AAP before the first vote is cast”.
After hearing Singhvi and the ED, the High Court reserved its verdict for this afternoon.
The ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate revolves around allegations of a Rs 600 crore scam related to the former liquor excise policy for the national capital. The agency alleges irregularities in profit margin adjustments to cover bribes for alcohol sales licenses, funds that were allegedly diverted for AAP’s political campaigns in Goa and Punjab.
Kejriwal and the AAP have vehemently denied these accusations, attributing them to political vendetta by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which they claim manipulates central agencies to target political opponents.
The BJP has refuted these allegation.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election will be held over seven phases beginning April 19. The results will be declared on June 4.