Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, has made history by becoming the first sitting Chief Minister to be arrested. His arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday, in connection with a liquor probe, marks a significant development in Indian political history. This comes just two months after the arrest of Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, who resigned from his post shortly before his arrest.
The arrest of Kejriwal, a prominent leader of the opposition, underscores the escalating legal challenges faced by political figures in the country. Despite his arrest, the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has affirmed that Kejriwal will continue to serve as the Chief Minister, emphasizing that the national capital will be governed from within prison walls.
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#WATCH | AAP leader Atishi says, “We have received news that ED has arrested Arvind Kejriwal… We have always said that Arvind Kejriwal will run the govt from jail. He will remain the CM of Delhi. We have filed a case in the Supreme Court. Our lawyers are reaching SC. We will… pic.twitter.com/XWQJ1D6ziR
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2024
Kejriwal’s arrest follows another high-profile arrest in the same investigation, as BRS leader K Kavitha was apprehended in Hyderabad and subsequently brought to New Delhi. Speculation had been rife regarding Kejriwal’s potential arrest, especially after the recent arrest of Kavitha.
The situation intensified after a court ruling denied Kejriwal protection from coercive action by the agency, clearing the way for his arrest. Shortly after the court’s decision, Enforcement Directorate officials descended upon Kejriwal’s residence in Civil Lines with a search warrant, leading to his arrest after a few hours.
Kejriwal’s legal woes stem from his repeated refusal to comply with ED summons dating back to last year, citing various engagements. Despite his attempts to challenge the summons in court, the judiciary declined to intervene at this stage, allowing the investigation to proceed.
The case revolves around allegations of corruption related to the scrapped liquor policy. Notably, Kejriwal is not the first AAP member to be implicated in this case, as Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were previously arrested in connection with the same investigation.
In response to Kejriwal’s arrest, the AAP has swiftly moved the Supreme Court to challenge the decision. Atishi, a Delhi minister and AAP leader, announced the party’s urgent plea for a hearing before the Supreme Court.
Despite his legal troubles, Kejriwal’s political journey has been noteworthy. Rising to prominence as a key figure in the anti-corruption movement alongside Anna Hazare, he assumed office as Delhi’s Chief Minister in 2013. Though he resigned a year later, he reclaimed the position in 2015 and secured another term in 2020, with the AAP enjoying majority support.
Kejriwal’s background as a mechanical engineering graduate from IIT-Kharagpur and his subsequent stint in the Indian Revenue Services add layers to his political persona, shaping his trajectory as a prominent figure in Indian politics.