Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal braces for ED arrest as ministers sound alarm

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrest: In a series of social media posts, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi have claimed that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is on the verge of being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Bhardwaj suggested that Kejriwal is expected to be apprehended by the ED tomorrow morning, while Atishi hinted at reports indicating a potential raid on Kejriwal's residence.

News coming in that ED is going to raid @ArvindKejriwal’s residence tmrw morning. Arrest likely.

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 3, 2024

Kejriwal's Non-compliance with ED Summons

On January 3, Chief Minister Kejriwal failed to appear before the ED in response to the agency's third summons related to the Excise Policy case. In lieu of personal attendance, Kejriwal submitted a written reply, branding the notice as illegal. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised concerns, alleging a conspiracy to arrest Kejriwal and impede his Lok Sabha election campaign.

सुनने में आ रहा है कल सुबह मुख्यमंत्री केजरीवाल जी के घर ED पहुँच कर उन्हें गिरफ़्तार करने वाली है ।

— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) January 3, 2024

AAP's Allegations and Kejriwal's Response

While asserting Kejriwal's willingness to cooperate with the ED, the AAP contends that the repeated issuance of notices is a deliberate strategy to arrest him and disrupt his election campaign. The party questions the timing, alleging that the notices are strategically timed to impede Kejriwal's political activities in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

In his written response to the ED on Wednesday, Kejriwal conveyed his engagements in preparation for the Rajya Sabha elections and Republic Day. He expressed readiness to respond to the agency's queries but sought clarification on the nature and intent of the inquiry. Kejriwal criticised the ED's silence on these crucial aspects, insinuating an arbitrary and opaque approach to the case.

Previous Non-compliance and Political Motivations

This follows Kejriwal's refusal to appear before the ED on two prior summons, dated December 2 and December 21, wherein he deemed the notices as 'illegal' and 'politically motivated.' Citing his responsibilities in the Rajya Sabha elections and Republic Day preparations, Kejriwal highlighted his commitment to these crucial events as the Chief Minister and AAP's national convenor.

As the situation unfolds, political implications loom large, raising concerns over the potential arrest and its impact on Kejriwal's political trajectory.