No relief for Kejriwal: Delhi HC refuses to interfere with Delhi CM's ED arrest, next hearing set for April 3

A Delhi High Court judge on Wednesday gave the Enforcement Directorate till April 2 to file a response to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's pleas seeking release from custody. The court refused to interfere with the Aam Aadmi Party supremo's arrest in connection with the excise policy case.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma has set the next date for the hearing on April 3, with the central agency required to file a response the day before. The Justice said that the ED has to be granted an opportunity to file a reply, as an opportunity for effective representation.

"The Directorate of Enforcement will ensure that replies are filed to the main petition as well as the application for interim release of the petitioner by 02.04.2024 and copies of the same are provided in digitized form as well as hard copy to the learned counsel for the petitioner," ordered the court.


In a blow to Kejriwal, the court further stated that any release order from custody would amount to enlarging Kejriwal on bail or interim bail, as an interim measure. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, contended the arrest of a sitting chief minister on the cusp of elections was against the basic structure of the Constitution.

"Object of the arrest was not to find material but to disable me and my party. My prayer is, release me now," he argued.

The AAP national convenor, arrested by the ED on March 21 and subsequently remanded to the federal agency's custody till March 28, sought his immediate release on the grounds that the arrest was illegal.

The excise policy case pertains to the alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 that was later scrapped.