Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Arrested by Financial Crime Agency
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been taken into custody by India’s financial crime agency in relation to corruption allegations surrounding the city’s liquor policy. This arrest is part of a larger case that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has denounced as “dirty politics”, with two of Kejriwal’s deputies also facing similar charges last year.
Atishi Singh, Delhi’s finance minister, has vehemently denied the allegations and labeled Kejriwal’s arrest as a “political conspiracy” orchestrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently looking into claims that a liquor policy implemented by Kejriwal’s administration in 2022 provided unfair advantages to private retailers.
Despite the allegations, Kejriwal has continued to proclaim his innocence, stating that no evidence of misconduct has been uncovered during the investigation. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, where the charges against him will be officially revealed.
Kejriwal’s legal counsel has alleged that the Modi government is exploiting the Enforcement Directorate to undermine the AAP ahead of the upcoming national elections. Various opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, have voiced their apprehension regarding the incident.
As a key figure in the opposition alliance challenging Modi’s BJP in the upcoming elections, Kejriwal’s arrest has sparked protests from his supporters outside his residence. Clashes with security forces have also been reported as tensions escalate following the news of his custody.
