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'Life, liberty exceedingly important': Supreme Court questions ED on Kejriwal's arrest before elections

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 30 Apr 2024, 11:37 am

New Delhi : The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) why Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested just before the Lok Sabha Elections began.

The apex court made the question while hearing Kejriwal's challenge against his arrest in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

Explaining the reason behind why the question of the timing of the arrest arose, Justice Sanjeev Khanna told the ED to make it clear whether the central agency can take up criminal proceedings without having gone through judicial proceedings in the case.

The bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta asked Additional Solicitor General SV Raju to respond to the question regarding the timing of the arrest and said: "Life and liberty are exceedingly important. You can't deny that."

"No attachment action has been taken so far in this case, and if it has been done, then show how Kejriwal is involved in the matter," Justice Khanna said. "Tell me, why the arrest before the general elections?" he said.

The apex court said that in the matter linked to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the investigators have claimed they have found material but in Kejriwal's case nothing has been brought up.

The court asked the ED to explain why there has been such a huge gap between the beginning of proceedings and the arrest. It then ordered the ED to respond on Friday.

Kejriwal, who has decided to continue as Chief Minister from jail, is currently in judicial custody at Delhi's Tihar following his arrest on March 21.

The Supreme Court had issued notice to ED on April 15 and sought its response to Kejriwal's challenge against his arrest.

On April 9, the Delhi High Court upheld Kejriwal's arrest, saying there was no illegality and the ED had little "little option" after he skipped summons and refused to join the investigation.

The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) election campaign is presently being managed by party leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and other senior party colleagues.

Kejriwal's wife Sunita has also joined the party's work in reaching out to her husband's supporters.