Forces deployed as Arvind Kejriwal appears in court amid potential protests

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to appear in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday as his custodial remand with the Enforcement Directorate ends. This follows a Delhi High Court decision denying him immediate relief regarding his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.

On Wednesday, Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita, stated that her husband would make a “big expose” regarding alleged irregularities in the liquor policy case during Thursday’s court proceedings. She also claimed that no money was discovered in multiple raids conducted by the central probe agency on the premises of Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Satyendar Jain.

In anticipation of Kejriwal’s court appearance, the Delhi Police deployed personnel and paramilitary forces to prevent any potential incidents, particularly in response to anticipated protests by AAP workers and leaders.

Crucial responsibilities were reportedly assigned to Delhi Police personnel, with DCP rank officers remaining on the ground. Orders were issued to detain protesters, and all vehicles in the area were instructed to be inspected.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded to the probe agency’s custody until March 28 by a Delhi court. Last week, the Chief Minister’s petition to the high court for an urgent hearing was reportedly denied due to the high court’s closure for Holi.

Following his arrest, AAP leaders staged massive protests, while BJP leaders and workers protested outside the Delhi Assembly demanding Kejriwal’s resignation.

The Aam Aadmi Party criticized the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday, claiming the agency had no response to questions raised by the Chief Minister’s lawyers in the High Court regarding his arrest. In contrast, the BJP asserted that Kejriwal failed to obtain relief because the Enforcement Directorate had “concrete” evidence against him, suggesting that the final chapter of Kejriwal’s “politics of deception” would unfold in the coming days.

The case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently scrapped. Top AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are in judicial custody in connection with the case.