Delhi High Court rejected a plea filed by Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by ED

The court also denied any suspicions raised regarding the manner of recording the statement of an approver

Digital Desk: Kejriwal appealed his detention by the ED in connection with a money laundering case using the now-defunct Delhi excise policy. The court said that Kejriwal's arrest was not in violation of the law, and remand can't be called "illegal" The panel of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma decided the ED has enough evidence to arrest Arvind Kejriwal.

According to the court decision, the information acquired by the ED demonstrates Kejriwal's alleged involvement in the formulation of the excise policy and his apparent demands for bribes. The court took note of his activity in both his personal capacity and as the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party.

The court also denied any suspicions raised regarding the manner of recording the statement of an approver.

“To doubt and aspersions regarding the manner of recording the statement of approver, amounts to casting aspersions on the judge and the court,” the Hindustan Times quoted Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said, noting that the law of approver is more than a century old.

During the court, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Arvind Kejriwal, referred to past statements by accused-turned-approvers who said criminal law was being 'turned on its head'. 

Singhvi argued that this case reeks of time concerns. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the excise policy issue. On April 1, the trial court sentenced Arvind Kejriwal to judicial imprisonment until April 15, 2024, just days before the Lok Sabha elections.

Justice Sharma stated that the timing of the arrest did not indicate any malice on the side of the ED.

“Kejriwal will have the right to cross-examine the witnesses. The said person will have to answer it at that stage. This court cannot step into the shoes of a trial court and conduct mini-trial in writ jurisdiction,” she added as quoted by the Hindustan Times.