In response to the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Excise Policy money laundering case, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla has sharply criticized Kejriwal, asserting that the court’s decision has laid bare his alleged corruption.
Poonawalla stated, “Today’s order against Kejriwal exposes that he is not staunchly honest but he is completely corrupt. There is prima facie material available against him, evidence available against him.”
He further lambasted the Chief Minister for purportedly governing the Delhi government from jail, emphasizing Kejriwal’s alleged involvement in the formulation of policies and acceptance of kickbacks.
“There is no room left for the AAP to play the victimhood card. Today they must tell us how can Kejriwal continue as chief minister, that too from inside Tihar jail?” Poonawalla added.
Notably, sources indicate that Chief Minister Kejriwal intends to challenge the Delhi High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court, as the Aam Aadmi Party disagrees with the ruling.
The Delhi High Court, in its ruling, upheld Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, stating that there was sufficient material to support the decision. The court also dismissed Kejriwal’s contention regarding the timing of his arrest, asserting that it must be examined according to legal principles rather than election considerations.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case, and he has been remanded to judicial custody until April 15, 2024. The ED alleges that the AAP benefited significantly from the proceeds of crime in the alleged liquor scam and accuses Kejriwal of direct involvement in the formulation of the excise policy.
The case revolves around alleged irregularities and money laundering related to the Delhi Excise Policy 2022, which was subsequently annulled.