Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activists took to the ITO foot-over bridge in Delhi on Friday to protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal, despite his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case, has not resigned from his post, sparking a wave of demonstrations from his party members.
The protest, marked by slogans like ‘Aam Aadmi Party Zindabad’ and ‘Arvind Kejriwal Zindabad,’ saw AAP supporters holding up posters with Kejriwal’s image, bearing captions like ‘jail ka jawab vote se,’ expressing their solidarity with their leader.
The demonstration comes in the wake of a recent court decision on April 10, where a plea by Kejriwal to increase the number of legal meetings with his lawyers from two to five times a week was dismissed. Kejriwal had argued that given the multiple FIRs he is facing across different states, more legal consultations were necessary. However, the court ruled in line with the Jail Manual, allowing only one legal meeting per week and, in special cases, up to two meetings.
Responding to Kejriwal’s plea, Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain representing the authorities opposed the request, highlighting that the applicant was already receiving the maximum legal meetings allowed under the Jail Manual. The legal team argued that allowing five meetings per week would be exceptional treatment, especially considering the gravity of the allegations against Kejriwal and the nature of his office.
Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody, set until April 15, stems from allegations by the ED that the AAP is a significant beneficiary of the proceeds of crime linked to the alleged liquor scam. The trial court’s decision to send Kejriwal to judicial custody has intensified political tensions and triggered public demonstrations from AAP members and supporters, showcasing their unwavering support for their leader amidst legal challenges.
