Arvind Kejriwal issues order as Delhi CM from custody, India battles global attention ahead of polls

The ED arrested Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case on Thursday night

After a day in custody on graft charges, Arvind Kejriwal on March 24 issued his first order as Delhi chief minister, stabbing briefly the raging debate over the feasibility of running an elected government from prison, while his arrest just days before the general elections attracted global attention.

The order was issued to his cabinet colleague Atishi on resolving water crisis plaguing the national capital.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case on March 21 night, in which two senior leaders of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are in judicial custody.

The ED in its remand papers claimed that Kejriwal was involved in the conspiracy of formulation of the excise policy 2021-22 to favour certain persons and also involved in demanding of kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange of favours granted in the policy.

Kejriwal was presented before the Rouse Avenue Court on March 22, where the ED sought his remand. The court sent Delhi CM to ED custody for six days till March 28 in the case where Kejriwal is accused of being the "kingpin".

German envoy faces the heat 

India summoned the German envoy on March 23 evening to protest against his government's remarks about the arrest of Kejriwal, a prominent Opposition leader.

"We summoned the German embassy's deputy chief of mission, Georg Enzweiler, and conveyed India’s strong protest," the ministry of external affairs said later on March 23.

Asked about the arrest at a government press conference on Friday, Sebastian Fischer, spokesperson for Germany's foreign office, said that Berlin had taken note of the incident.

"We assume and expect that the standards relating to independence of judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case," Fischer said, adding that like anyone else facing accusations, Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial.

"We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary," the Indian ministry said in a statement. "Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted."

India labelled the comments as comments as "biased and unwarranted" and they "undermined the independence of the judiciary" and were a "blatant interference in India's internal matters".

Hearing on Wednesday 

The Delhi High Court will take up Arvind Kejriwal's request on Wednesday in which he has challenged his arrest as well as a lower court's order granting the ED his custody for seven days. He was arrested on Thursday and, the next day, the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi had remanded him in the Probe Agency's custody till March 28.

Protest rally to rock the capital

The AAP has planned a protest rally in the national capital on March 24 against the arrest of Kejriwal. Delhi cabinet minister Gopal Rai said all party MLAs, office-bearers will gather at Shaheedi Park to protest against the BJP - which the Aam Aadmi Party alleges is misusing central agencies to target the opposition leaders. Representatives of the INDIA bloc are also expected to partake in the protest that will see candle marches as well as the burning of effigies.

Anna Hazare reacts  

Social activist Anna Hazare, who spearheaded the Lokpal movement in the early 2010s along with Arvind Kejriwal, was disappointed by the arrest of his one-time comrade.

"I am very upset that Arvind Kejriwal, who used to work with me, raise his voice against liquor, is now making liquor policies. His arrest is because of his own deeds," Hazare said.