Delhi Liquor Policy Scam Case Live Updates: The ED has arrested the Delhi Chief Minister yesterday
New Delhi:
AAP ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj were detained by the police on Friday morning during the party’s protest against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s arrest last night by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor policy case. Mr Kejriwal has withdrawn a Supreme Court petition against his arrest, sources told NDTV. The chief minister will now approach a lower court over his arrest on Thursday night by a 12-member team of the probe agency which reached his official residence with a search warrant.
The probe agency has begun its first round of questioning the chief minister. After his arrest, the AAP said Mr Kejriwal will continue as the chief minister and discharge his duties from jail. “Arvind Kejriwal is and will remain the Chief Minister of Delhi… there are no two ways about it,” said AAP leader Atishi.
The party has announced nationwide protests against the arrest. AAP workers began their protest at Delhi’s ITO, where security has been stepped up. Paramilitary personnel in riot gear have been deployed to quell any protests. All roads leading to AAP’s office in Delhi have been blocked.
This is the first time a sitting chief minister has been arrested in the history of Independent India. Two leaders of Mr Kejriwal’s party AAP — Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh — have already been arrested by the probe agency in the case. The chief minister was summoned nine times by the probe agency but repeatedly refused to appear before it, calling the summons illegal.
LIVE Updates on Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest | Delhi Liquor Policy Case:
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#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: On ED arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “I call upon Supreme Court to take Suo Moto cognizance on what has happened… What has happened is violative of the spirit of democracy… The court has every right to… pic.twitter.com/zr7ghZlhqf
– ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2024
#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On ED arresting Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah says, “This is not the first one. Before this, a few weeks ago, our friend, the chief minister of Jharkhand, was also detained. He went to Raj Bhavan and submitted his… pic.twitter.com/EsTYTaKjCi
– ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2024
Arvind Kejriwal withdraws petition against arrest from Supreme Court, will go to a lower court
BREAKING: Anna Hazare Speaks On Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest
Anna Hazare said he wrote letters to Arvind Kejriwal condemning the Delhi liquor policy. “Arvind Kejriwal protested against alcohol consumption with me. I was hurt to see him form a new liquor policy for Delhi. That’s how politics works. The law will take its course,” he said.
“Today, our INDIA alliance will meet the EC to express our strong objection to the deliberate targeting and arrests of opposition leaders, particularly during the MCC period. To this end, I have designated @derekobrienmp and @MdNadimulHaque6 to represent @AITCofficial in this crucial meeting with the Election Commission,” Mamata Banerjee said.
I vehemently condemn the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, the sitting elected Chief Minister of Delhi elected by the people. I have personally reached out to Smt Sunita Kejriwal to extend my unwavering support and solidarity. It’s outrageous that while elected opposition CMs are being…
– Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 22, 2024
“Today, our INDIA alliance will meet the EC to express our strong objection to the deliberate targeting and arrests of opposition leaders, particularly during the MCC period. To this end, I have designated @derekobrienmp and @MdNadimulHaque6 to represent @AITCofficial in this crucial meeting with the Election Commission,” Mamata Banerjee said.
I vehemently condemn the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, the sitting elected Chief Minister of Delhi elected by the people. I have personally reached out to Smt Sunita Kejriwal to extend my unwavering support and solidarity. It’s outrageous that while elected opposition CMs are being…
– Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 22, 2024
The Delhi BJP on Friday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party for protesting against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “He himself skipped nine Enforcement Directorate summonses. He will now have to answer the ED because he was involved in corruption that is why he has been arrested,” Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said.
“Scam Only On Paper”: INDIA Ally Sanjay Raut On Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest
“This liquor scam, this scam, that scam is only on paper so far, this scam has not gone to anyone’s account. This is happening in India and wherever the states go against dictatorship, this is how it happens. Arvind Kejriwal ji has fought a great battle,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.
Mr Kejriwal’s plea will be heard by a special bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bela Trivedi and MM Sundresh today. The Delhi Chief Minister is also expected to be produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court while the ED may seek a 10-day custody for further interrogation.
BREAKING: Delhi Police Detains AAP Protesters At Delhi’s ITO
The Delhi Police has started detaining AAP workers protesting at ITO.
BREAKING: AAP Begins Protest In Delhi
Aam Aadmi Party workers reach ITO intersection in large numbers. Heavy police deployment outside Rouse Avenue Court, PM House, Home Minister’s House, BJP Headquarters, LG House, ED Headquarters.
भारत के लोकतंत्र के इतिहास में पहली बार:
☝🏽 एक Sitting Chief Minister को केंद्र सरकार द्वारा गिरफ्तार किया गया है
☝🏽National party के National Convenor को गिरफ्तार करना☝🏽 एक ऐसी Investigation में गिरफ्तार करना, जिसमें दो साल की जांच के बाद भी ₹1 की Recovery of proceeds of… pic.twitter.com/iTeRsufhk5
– AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 22, 2024
The AAP leader claimed that the blessings and love of 135 crore Indians are with Arvind Kejriwal, who, as per the Chadha, “was arrested under a conspiracy.”
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case on Thursday night, in which two senior AAP leaders are already in judicial custody.
केजरीवाल सिर्फ़ एक व्यक्ति का नहीं, बल्कि एक सोच का नाम है।
केजरीवाल के शरीर को तो गिरफ़्तार कर लोगे, उनकी सोच को नहीं कर पाओगे। pic.twitter.com/ciZCUaaP5x
– Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) March 22, 2024
Kapil Sibal, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate, comments on the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
• Sibal urges the INDIA Alliance to take action collectively against such occurrences.
• He dismisses the case against Kejriwal as “zero,” lacking substantial evidence.
• Sibal criticizes the reliance on approvers’ statements, pointing out the absence of concrete proof.
• He denounces the situation as a mockery of democracy.
#WATCH | Delhi: On ED arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Rajya Sabha MP and Senior advocate Kapil Sibal says, “INDIA Alliance has to decide what to do. I have been saying since the beginning that the alliance has to come together against all of this… This is a zero case… The… pic.twitter.com/YaNWHKgZ8H
– ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2024
Probe agency ED can also name the Aam Aadmi Party as an accused in the Delhi liquor policy case. During the bail hearing of Manish Sisodia in the Supreme Court, the court also asked that if the money went to the Aam Aadmi Party, why not make it an accused.
BREAKING: First Round Of Arvind Kejriwal’s Questioning Begins At ED Office
The Enforcement Directorate has begun the first round of questioning of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The questioning will be recorded on cameras inside the ED office.
AAP leader Gopal Rai alleges Arvind Kejriwal’s family has been placed under “house arrest”. Mr Rai said he was not allowed to meet Mr Kejriwal’s family.
Delhi Police on Friday morning stepped up security 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. Paramilitary personnel in anti-riot gears have have also been deployed to maintain law and order situation in the area.
Sources in the AAP said all Delhi MLAs and councillors have been asked to mobilise people at BJP headquarters and the party expects that a large number of people would be out on the streets to protest the arrest of Kejriwal.
According to a senior police officer, instructions have been issued to detain the protestors as Section 144 has been imposed outside BJP headquarters and ED office.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA Rakhi Birla was detained for protesting outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“For the first time in the country, a sitting Chief Minister has been arrested. Arvind Kejriwal has Z+ security cover. Now he is in the custody of ED of central government. We are concerned about his safety and security,” AAP’s Atishi said.
देश में पहली बार एक sitting Chief Minister को गिरफ़्तार किया गया है। अरविंद केजरीवाल के पास Z+ security cover होता है। अब वो केंद्र सरकार की ED की कस्टडी में हैं। हमें उनके safety और security की चिंता है।
– Atishi (@AtishiAAP) March 22, 2024
Traffic Alert
On 22.03.2024, Due to Special arrangements, Traffic may remain affected on Krishna Menon Marg, Motilal Nehru Marg, Janpath, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road.Commuters are advised to avoid these stretches till further notice.– Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) March 22, 2024
Delhi chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is being held in one of the two lockups at the Enforcement Directorate headquarters in Delhi. Officials said that the leader was unable to sleep properly at night and woke up early today. He ate breakfast and took his medicines.
The ITO Metro station of the Delhi Metro will remain closed from 8 am to 6 pm today
Service Update
On advice of Delhi Police, ITO Metro station will remain closed from 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM today i.e, 22nd March 2024.
– Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) March 22, 2024
A team of doctors have arrived at the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi to conduct the medical examination of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday. Security has been stepped up around the ED office as well as the AAP and BJP headquarters in the national capital.
The Aam Aadmi Party in Mumbai accuses police of “high-handedness” while protesting the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. AAP’s Maharashtra president Preeti Sharma Menon said their workers were shoved, beaten and punched and women workers were detained in the night.
“Unbelievable police brutality today. @AAPMumbai was dragged, beaten, punched while protesting against the unlawful arrest of Arvind Kejriwal by Modi’s ED,” Menon tweeted.
He & Anna Hazare gang were responsible for making most irresponsible, baseless & wild allegations against Congress including Sheila Dikshit ji saying he had ‘trunk loads’ of evidence against her. No one has seen the ‘trunk’ so far. Karma catches up! #KejriwalArrestedhttps://t.co/9W1sbFlEDo
– Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) March 21, 2024
“Unconstitutional’, ‘Witch-Hunt’: INDIA Bloc Slams Arvind Kejriwal’s ArrestDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest has firmly brought together the INDIA bloc, which has been making headlines recently more for its differences than its unity. Minutes after the arrest, posts from key leaders across the Opposition flooded social media, criticising the Centre and the BJP in no uncertain terms. That the BJP is running scared ahead of the Lok Sabha election was the primary thought. Many declared that the people will respond to this with their votes.
Roads leading to AAP’s headquarters in Delhi’s Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg have been blocked. Entry of any vehicles have been prohibited.
Strongly condemn the unlawful arrest of Delhi CM #ArvindKejriwal Ji
The ED and the CBI have become the chief instruments of repression in the hands of BJP. Political opponents are targeted on unsubstantiated grounds & political vendetta is their sole purpose
– KTR (@KTRBRS) March 21, 2024
Rahul Gandhi To Meet Arvind Kejriwal’s Family To Offer Legal Aid: ReportCongress leader Rahul Gandhi will meet Arvind Kejriwal’s family today and assure them of his support following the Delhi Chief Minister’s arrest on Thursday. The Congress leader has talked to the family over pone last night.
“This is an attempt to murder democracy. Neither CBI nor ED has received even a single penny in the 2 year investigation. Yet just before the elections, the CM is arrested. Because the Prime Minister knows that if there is any leader who can challenge him then it is Arvind Kejriwal. If you want to fight, then come forward and fight. Stop fighting by hiding behind ED. Our fight will continue from the streets to the Parliament. We have filed an application in the Supreme Court, the hearing is tomorrow morning. We hope that the Supreme Court will work to save democracy.”
ये लोकतंत्र की हत्या करने का प्रयास हुआ है।
2 साल की जाँच में एक पैसा भी, ना CBI को मिला है, ना ED को मिला है। फिर भी चुनाव से ठीक पहले, CM @ArvindKejriwal को गिरफ़्तार कर लिया जाता है।
क्योंकि प्रधानमंत्री @NarendraModi जी को पता है कि कोई नेता है जो उन्हें Challenge कर सकता… pic.twitter.com/VHBM5ehgQR
– AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 21, 2024
