‘ED Illegally Selected Me…’: In a counteraffidavit, Kejriwal describes his arrest as ‘politically motivated’

New Delhi: Following his appeal to the Delhi High Court judgment, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court to address the affidavit provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Kejriwal has denied in his affidavit that he destroyed or made disappearance of evidence related to cell phones, claiming that he did not do any such conduct.

Kejriwal rejected the ED’s charge of “large-scale destruction of evidence” as erroneous and without merit, claiming that the respondent’s accusations are just symbolic and an effort to support his illegitimate detention. In the upcoming elections, Kejriwal said that the governing party will unfairly gain an advantage due to his “politically motivated” imprisonment.

“The petitioner’s unlawful detention has seriously harmed the petitioner’s political party during an election season when political activity is at its peak, and it will provide the governing party at the Center an unfair advantage in the current elections. Kejriwal informed the Supreme Court that “the illegal arrest of the Petitioner has clearly compromised a level playing field, which is a pre-requisite for ‘free and fair elections.'”

Kejriwal went on to denounce the actions of the ED, saying they were being arrogant and disobeying the rule of law. He said the ED was only interested in getting a statement against him, and once that was obtained, they stopped going after him and the other co-accused parties.

“The current case is a perfect example of how the central government, headed by the governing party, has abused the Enforcement Directorate, a central agency, and its broad powers under the PMLA to destroy the Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders, which is its main political rival. The Delhi CM’s affidavit said, “The corresponding paragraphs of SLP are reiterated and relied upon herein and not repeated for the sake of brevity.”

The Chief Minister of Delhi drew attention to the ED’s nefarious intention to suppress remarks made by co-accused persons who either made no accusations at all or flatly denied any misconduct.

On March 21, Arvind Kejriwal was taken into custody on suspicion of participating in a money laundering probe pertaining to the Delhi excise policy case.
On April 9, the Delhi High Court affirmed Kejriwal’s detention, stating a compelling circumstance that required his arrest—his repeated unwillingness to comply with ED summonses.