New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court against jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest in the alleged money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped liquor policy case.
In the affidavit, the probe agency claimed that the Chief Minister was arrested following “large-scale” tampering of evidence, including the destruction of around 170 mobile phones during the period of the ‘scam’ and when the irregularities came out in public.
The affidavit also highlighted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief had been evading interrogation, despite being summoned nine times by the investigating officer. It also clarified that Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest ensued after he repeatedly ignored Enforcement Directorate summonses and failed to obtain protection from the Delhi High Court.
“It is only when the petitioner failed to get an order of no-coercive steps from the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court coupled with the fact that he was not obeying the summonses, his house was searched, and he was arrested,” the affidavit stated.
While contesting the Chief Minister’s charge regarding the timing of his arrest, especially when the Lok Sabha elections were around the corner, the Enforcement Directorate told the top court that the arrest of the accused, regardless of his stature, is based on substantial evidence and does not infringe upon the principles of free and fair polls.
The probe agency also contended that granting immunity from arrest to politicians with criminal charges would undermine the integrity of the electoral process. “The arrest of a person for an offense based on material can never violate the concept of free and fair elections. If the aforesaid argument is accepted, politicians who are criminals would be granted immunity from arrest on the ground,” the affidavit stated.
Reacting to the affidavit, AAP rejected the claims and alleged that the probe agency is spewing lies and does not have any evidence against Arvind Kejriwal. The ruling party in Delhi also said that ED was working as a political wing of the BJP.
“ED is just a machine spewing lies and is working like a political wing of the BJP. The central probe agency does not have any evidence against Arvind Kejriwal. This is not an ED investigation, but a BJP investigation. BJP wants to hinder Arvind Kejriwal’s election campaigning,” AAP said.
