Kejriwal urgently seeks SC hearing on ED arrest plea

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud instructed senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing CM Kejriwal, to send an email after he mentioned the matter for urgent hearing.

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday sought an urgent hearing on his plea filed before the Supreme Court against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case.

“Please send an email,” a Bench presided over by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared on behalf of CM Kejriwal and mentioned the matter for urgent hearing.

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On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court dismissed CM Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest and the trial court order remanding him to the federal anti-money laundering agency’s custody. A bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma took note of the ED’s submission that the agency had enough material, including statements from approvers and allegations of involvement in the formulation of the excise policy, which had led them to arrest him.

The Delhi High Court had said, “The files and material placed before us reveal that the mandate of law was followed by the ED. The trial court order is not a two-line order. The statements with ED are of hawala dealers as well as AAP candidates in Goa elections.”

Immediately after he was taken into custody by the ED on March 21, CM Kejriwal moved the apex court seeking an urgent late-night hearing on his petition. On the very next day, before a special Bench of the Supreme Court could commence hearing the matter, he withdrew his plea and decided to contest remand proceedings before the trial court.