ED misused its power under PMLA to unleash political vendetta, CM Kejriwal's lawyer to court
ED misused its power under Prevention of Money Laundering Act to unleash political vendetta, said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's lawyer to court. He further told the court that no incriminating material found showing CM Kejriwal's involvement in crime despite over 200 raids in excise policy case.
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Arvind Kejriwal arrest live updates: No bar in law on arrested person from continuing as CM, say legal experts
Arvind Kejriwal can continue as Delhi chief minister post his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy-linked money laundering case with legal experts on Friday saying there is no bar under the law which prohibits an arrested person from holding the post. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on Thursday hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from any coercive action by the central probe agency. While senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan said there is no bar in law on a person continuing as chief minister once arrested, senior advocate Vikas Singh said though legally there is no bar, administratively it will be next to impossible.
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Kejriwal arrest LIVE: BRS chief KCR condemns Kejriwal's arrest, calls it a 'dark day'
BRS President and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday condemned the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling it a "dark day in the history of democracy in the country". The recent arrests of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren -- who resigned just before he was arrested -- and BRS MLC K Kavitha prove that the BJP-led Centre's sole intention is to "ruin the opposition parties in the country", Rao said in a statement.
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Kejriwal directly involved in use of proceeds of crime generated in AAP's Goa campaign in 2022: ED to court
CM Kejriwal was involved in conspiracy of formulation of liquor policy to favour certain persons, demanding of kickbacks, said ED. Arvind Kejriwal was directly involved in use of proceeds of crime generated in AAP's Goa election campaign in 2022, it further told court
7:17 PM
AAP to gherao PM's residence on March 26 to register protest against Kejriwal's arrest: Gopal Rai
AAP to gherao PM's residence on March 26 to register protest against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, said party leader Gopal Rai. He added, "Delhi ministers, AAP MLAs, councillors will take pledge to safeguard country at Shaheedi Park on Saturday." Rai further added, "Holi programme won't take place this year, instead we will go to people and tell them what is happening in country."
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Arvind Kejriwal always stood with people of Delhi, says his wife Sunita Kejriwal
CM Arvind Kejriwal always stood with people of Delhi, his arrest betrayal with them, said his wife Sunita Kejriwal. She added, "Whether inside (jail) or outside, Arvind Kejriwal's life dedicated to country and public knows everything."
6:18 PM
Centre does not let the field get levelled as they misuse agencies: Congress leader Singhvi after meeting EC
After meeting the Election Commission, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi says, "Almost every opposition party is here. This incident happened late at night (arrest of Delhi CM). We have a detailed discussion with the election commission. This isn't about an individual or any party but it relates to the basic structure of the constitution. When a level playing field is needed for election and you do not let the field be levelled by misusing agencies, it impacts free and fair elections and ultimately democracy. The Election Commission has been given the responsibility and is the police to protect this level field. We asked the Election Commission to interfere. In the history of 75 years of independent India, the first time a sitting CM has been arrested. The account of the grand old and the biggest opposition party has been frozen. We have given evidence of the misuse of agencies against the opposition leaders. We asked if the election commission can change the DGP, secretary then why it does not control these agencies?..."
5:57 PM
Attempt to paralyse the opposition: CPI's D Raja on arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
CPI general secretary D Raja on Friday deplored the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling it an attempt to "paralyse" the opposition by the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. He also dubbed as "financial terrorism" the freezing of bank accounts of the Congress, the CPI's alliance partner in the opposition bloc INDIA, and claimed that the BJP will be "taught a lesson" by the people in the Lok Sabha elections. "We strongly condemn the arrest of Kejriwal, which comes after the Lok Sabha polls schedule was announced. How will the Aam Aadmi Party chief take part in campaigning now? It is clearly an attempt to paralyse the opposition,” Raja told PTI video here. "I challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take on his opponents politically. He fears public anger on issues like poverty, unemployment and price rise. A reason why his government is using central agencies, especially, ED, to intimidate the opposition,” the CPI leader alleged.
5:49 PM
Arvind Kejriwal arrest: Goa BJP seeks probe into AAP's 2022 state Assembly polls funding
The Goa unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should step down from the post after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy-linked money laundering case. Kejriwal's arrest on Thursday night, the first of a sitting chief minister, came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor from any coercive action by the agency. "Kejriwal was arrested for his involvement in the excise scam. The allegations are serious. He must immediately step down as Delhi chief minister," Goa BJP spokesperson Yatish Naik said at a press conference here.
5:12 PM
Public will teach lesson to BJP, says Akhilesh Yadav on Kejriwal's arrest
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Friday slammed the BJP for the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying they can put leaders in jail but not the public which will teach them a lesson, PTI reported. "Sending the chief minister to jail and controlling news will not help them as they are weakening democracy and suppressing the voice of those who want to raise the truth," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister told reporters after meeting senior party leader Azam Khan who is lodged in a jail here.
"How much weight should be given to an approver's statement can only be a consideration at the time of trial. It can't be argued in a remand application," says ED while opposing Kejriwal's lawyers' submissions raising questions over approvers' statements.
4:52 PM
ED's actions show they have already concluded I'm guilty of offence: Kejriwal's counsel Ramesh Gupta
"First time in one and half years they are using the word kingpin. They have all information in first (complaint). He is not an accused in predicate offence," argues CM Kejriwal's third counsel Ramesh Gupta.
4:48 PM
When Ajit Pawar gets along with BJP, this very respected person says nothing: AAP leader on Hazare's statement
4:30 PM
ED said that I (Kejriwal) was being called in individual capacity, and not in the capacity of CM: Chaudhary
"A normal student of law would know that section 70 of PMLA is to prosecute a company and a firm. It is not in connection with a political party which is a different entity under the Representative of People's Act," argues Kejriwal's counsel Chaudhary before the court.
4:24 PM
All summons have been responded by me (Kejriwal), says Delhi CM's counsel Vikram Chaudhary
"In October 2023, summons started to get issued to me. Till yesterday, about nine summons. All responded by me," says Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhary before the court. "Not in the capacity of CM but in your (personal) capacity", he added.
A special court here on Friday sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the Enforcement Directorate's custody till March 28, a day after his arrest in the excise policy-linked money laundering case. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court said Kejriwal will be produced before the court on March 28 at 2 pm. The court passed the order on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application seeking a 10-day custody in the case.
Arvind Kejriwal "took advantage" of being Delhi CM to facilitate money laundering by AAP, a "major beneficiary" of proceeds of crimes, said ED. It further told court that Arvind Kejriwal is kingpin and key conspirator of Delhi liquor scam in collusion with his ministers and AAP leaders. "CM Kejriwal was involved in conspiracy of formulation of liquor policy to favour certain persons and demanding of kickbacks," it added.
After his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday evening in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case, the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) stated that Arvind Kejriwal will continue as the Delhi chief minister. "He will continue as the chief minister of Delhi. If need be, he will run the government from jail. There is no rule that stops him from running the government from jail since he has not been convicted," Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi told reporters. Kejriwal's arrest, the first of a sitting chief minister, came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP chief from any coercive action by the agency. The party also said that the ED has become a "political tool" of the ruling BJP at the Centre.
Delhi police officials strengthened security measures this morning with heavy personnel deployment and multi-layer barricading on roads leading to BJP headquarters where AAP leaders and workers will stage protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The roads leading to the BJP headquarters and ED office in central Delhi have been closed. AAP leaders have asked party workers to reach the BJP headquarters and begin a protest at 10:00 am on Friday against Kejriwal's arrest. Paramilitary personnel in anti-riot gears have have also been called in.
The Delhi CM has spent his night at the ED office located in central Delhi after his arrest in connection with a liquor policy- linked irregularities case on Thursday night. Police said instructions have been issued to detain the protestors as Section 144 has been imposed outside BJP headquarters and ED office.
 "Highlights: Court sends Delhi CM Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28")
