Arvind Kejriwal Withdraws SC Plea Against ED Arrest, opts for a trial court battle

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has withdrawn his petition from the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged involvement in the 2021-22 Delhi excise policy irregularities. The move comes amidst conflicts with remand proceedings and follows a similar rejection of plea by another political leader in the case.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, informed the top court of the decision, citing conflicts with remand proceedings. He stated, "As the remand proceedings before the trial court are clashing, we have decided to withdraw it here." The withdrawal closely follows the rejection of a similar request by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, arrested in the same case.

The special bench handling Kavitha's case emphasised the need to approach the trial court first. Singhvi had earlier brought Kejriwal's plea before Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, who directed him to the special bench. The bench, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, agreed to hear Kejriwal's case later in the day.

Kejriwal's arrest by the ED on Thursday followed his repeated failure to respond to 9 summonses. The Delhi High Court's rejection of his plea for interim protection prompted the arrest. Notably, Kejriwal had contested the legality of the summonses and questioned the nature of his summons.

The ongoing probe into the excise policy scam has seen prominent AAP leaders like former deputy Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also being arrested. ED's searches at Kejriwal's residence in Civil Lines preceded his arrest.

The next step for Kejriwal involves appearing before a special court at Rouse Avenue, where ED will seek his custody. Singhvi indicated that they would contest the remand. Kejriwal's decision to withdraw his plea signifies a strategic shift in his legal defence, opting for a trial court battle over the Supreme Court.