Following Germany’s lead, the United States advocates for a ‘just, transparent, and expeditious legal procedure’ for Mr. Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: Four days subsequent to Germany’s plea for a just trial for Arvind Kejriwal, which met with India’s disapproval for perceived “meddling,” the United States echoed a similar stance.
“We advocate for an equitable, transparent, and expeditious legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal,” as reported by Reuters, said a spokesperson from the US State Department. The representative disclosed that the US was vigilantly monitoring developments surrounding the arrest of the Delhi CM.
Promptly after the German Foreign Office expressed their views on the matter, India summoned a senior German envoy to lodge a “vigorous” protest, accusing Berlin of intruding into India’s legal affairs and undermining the autonomy of the Indian judiciary.
Earlier this month, the United States expressed reservations regarding the implementation of the CAA, a sentiment promptly dismissed by India as misguided and misinformed. On Monday, Stephen Schneck, a commissioner with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, labelled the CAA as “problematic,” citing its imposition of religious criteria on asylum seekers, explicitly excluding Muslims.
HC may entertain Kejriwal’s petition contesting his apprehension by the ED today The Delhi High Court is slated to deliberate on Wednesday a plea lodged last week by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, contesting his detention by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case of alleged money laundering linked to the purported excise policy scam.
As per the roster released by the high court on Tuesday, the petition seeking Kejriwal’s immediate release is scheduled for hearing before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma at 10:30 a.m. The petition challenges the custody order granted to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s national convener by the ED post-arrest, deeming it “unlawful.”
Justice Sharma presides over a dedicated special bench at the high court dealing with matters concerning members of Parliament or any legislative assembly. Earlier this year, the bench declined bail to AAP legislator Sanjay Singh in a related liquor policy affair.
Kejriwal was apprehended on March 21 and subsequently remanded to ED’s custody until March 28 by a Delhi court “for comprehensive and sustained interrogation.”
In his recent plea filed before the high court on Saturday, the CM sought an urgent hearing, arguing the illegality of his arrest, remand, and custody. The plea contended that immediate intervention was imperative since the detention of a constitutional officeholder by a central government agency was unauthorised. However, with the court in recess for Holi and resuming on Wednesday, the plea is anticipated to be entertained presently. The petition also alleges the arbitrary exercise of authority by the central investigative agency during the 2024 general election.
ED apprehended Kejriwal shortly after the high court, in a prior round of litigation, declined to shield him from coercive measures by the federal anti-money laundering agency. The CM had approached the court to annul all proceedings, including summonses issued against him by the ED.
In that petition, Kejriwal portrayed himself as a “vocal critic” of the ruling BJP at the Centre, an opposition leader, and a member of the opposition INDIA bloc, contending that the ED, under the control of the Union government, had been “weaponized.”
The case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and implementing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021–22, which was subsequently rescinded. Senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are in judicial custody in connection with the case.
ED alleges that the accused collaborated with Kejriwal to devise the excise policy, leading to undue advantages for them, in exchange for which they purportedly paid kickbacks to AAP.
