23 March
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal faced another setback as the High Court, presided over by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, declined to hear his petition for an immediate hearing. Kejriwal had sought an expedited hearing over his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), petitioning for a hearing on March 24, Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
In his petition, Kejriwal contended that both his arrest and the subsequent remand order were unlawful, advocating for his immediate release from custody. The Rouse Avenue court had sentenced Kejriwal to six days of ED remand on Friday, with a scheduled court appearance on March 28 at 2 pm. Despite ED’s plea for a 10-day remand, the court granted only six days.
During the remand hearing, ED alleged that Kejriwal, along with other ministers and Aam Aadmi Party leaders, played pivotal roles as the main conspirators in a liquor scam. The rejection of an immediate hearing prolongs Kejriwal’s legal battle, amplifying tensions surrounding his arrest and the allegations leveled against him.