The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a petition filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the ED in connection with a money-laundering case associated with the alleged excise policy scandal. The national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was arrested on March 21 and later remanded to the custody of the ED until March 28 by a Delhi court. Kejriwal had submitted his petition to the high court last week; however, sources indicate that his plea for an expedited hearing was declined due to the closure of the high court for the Holi festival.
On Tuesday, there was a clash of demonstrations in the streets of Delhi as both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged protests throughout the national capital. The AAP protested against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, while the BJP demanded his resignation, just a day before the Delhi High Court is set to address the issue.
Punjab education minister Harjot Bains, AAP’s Malviya Nagar legislator Somnath Bharti, and Delhi assembly deputy speaker Rakhi Birla were among those detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday morning at Patel Chowk Metro station.
AAP organized a march from Patel Chowk Metro station to the Prime Minister’s residence to protest Kejriwal’s arrest in connection with alleged irregularities and kickbacks linked to Delhi’s now-voided excise policy for liquor. However, the police enforced Section 144 in the entire New Delhi district and detained the protestors.
Bharti criticized the selective detention of peaceful AAP protesters and accused the authorities of bias and undermining democracy.
Simultaneously, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and several party leaders were detained during a protest march near the Delhi Secretariat, calling for Kejriwal’s resignation. Police used water cannons against the BJP leaders when they breached a barricade and approached the building.
AAP supporters gathered at the Metro station around 10 am, although senior AAP leaders or Delhi cabinet ministers did not attend the protest.
Security was heightened across parts of New Delhi, and the detained individuals were taken to various police stations in five buses. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla confirmed the detentions, stating that the protestors were released by evening.
Protesting BJP leaders accused Kejriwal of hypocrisy and power-hunger, emphasizing the need for his resignation.
BJP MLA Vijender Gupta claimed that Sunita Kejriwal, the Delhi CM’s wife, made a statement resembling an official address, utilizing the CM’s office backdrop, which Gupta considered a misuse of authority.
AAP asserted that Kejriwal’s arrest wouldn’t hinder his commitment to serving the people and dismissed the case against him as “false.”