Arvind Kejriwal News Highlights: Delhi HC denies urgent hearing of plea filed by Kejriwal against his arrest

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said that if Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is jailed, they will seek court approval to establish his office in prison for governance, PTI reported. Mann also emphasised that within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Kejriwal's position is irreplaceable.

He also asserted that no one can take Kejriwal's place in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Kejriwal is currently in Enforcement Directorate custody till March 28. He was arrested by the ED on Thursday night in connection with a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy of his government. Sisodia and Singh are also in jail in the same matter.

Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva held Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal responsible for the pain that his family members were undergoing. He also accused both the Congress and AAP of being mired in corruption and fighting the polls while holding each other's hands.

The Delhi BJP leaders on Saturday held a protest near Rajghat demanding the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal, currently in ED custody, and alleged the AAP is playing "victim card" to prove itself innocent.

The demand came in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arresting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an excise policy-linked money laundering case on Thursday night.

The BJP leaders on Saturday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and pledged to fight against corruption, singing "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram".

The wife of Delhi CM and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Sunita Kejriwal reaches the ED office.

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday lashed out at Arvind Kejriwal for continuing as Delhi chief minister despite being arrested, calling it the ‘worst kind of politics’. Read more here

Delhi High Court denies an urgent listing of the plea filed by Delhi CM and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest and custody in the case. The matter will be now listed on Wednesday.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said that if his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal is sent to jail, they will approach the court seeking permission to set up his office in prison to run his government from there.

Union minister Smriti Irani hit out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of having ‘double standards’ by expressing solidarity with Arvind Kejriwal's family. Read more here

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday moved the Delhi high court challenging his arrest and ED remand. He has sought an urgent hearing on March 24.

On Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal's press briefing, Bansuri Swaraj said, “We understand the anguish faced by Mrs Kejriwal. The person wholly responsible for her pain is Arvind Kejriwal. He defrauded the people of Delhi to fill his pockets with kickbacks worth ₹100 crore.”

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has sought an urgent appointment with the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field in the Lok Sabha elections, shortly after minister Atishi claimed that the party's Delhi office has been sealed.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday hit out at the BJP over the ED's remand of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying that it will be the “last nail in the coffin moment” for the saffron party. “Arvind Kejriwal is a big leader and he will come out soon, maybe in a few days. We have faith in the judiciary,” he said.

Mann added, “Whoever joins the BJP is believed that they have been cleaned by the washing machine. Those who are in opposition don't let them contest elections, is this the biggest democracy in the world?... Whoever trying to end the power of the BJP is a 'kingpin' as per them (BJP) and yes we are the kingpin and we will end their power in 2-4 years, and they (BJP) know this.”

AAP leaders including Delhi Minister Atishi sit on a protest against the arrest of Delhi chief minister and party supremo Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.

BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday took a swipe at INDIA parties for going back on their previous statements critical of AAP and Kejriwal following his arrest. “It's unfortunate for a corrupt leader to demand immunity (from arrest) in the name of a 'level playing field'. Is that democracy? You will indulge in corruption and then expect agencies not to carry out investigations against you, just because you belong to a political party that is going into elections. This is beyond the boundaries of the law,” he said.

Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja met Arvind Kejriwal's family on Saturday and condemned the Delhi chief minister's arrest. “We came in a delegation to meet Arvind Kejriwal's family members, to express our support and solidarity with them. I was in Patna and I condemned the arrest from there. Our position is very clear, we condemn this arrest as it is nothing but a political vendetta,” he told the media.

Hitting out at the ruling BJP, the CPI leader said, “They think that by doing this they can make the opposition parties inactive during the election period. BJP and RSS are getting jittery and desperate. The democratic movement stands behind Arvind Kejriwal and he will come out successfully.”

Two days after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in a Delhi liquor policy case, alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar on Saturday threatened to expose the former and said that he would become an “approver against the Delhi CM and his team”.

“All the evidence has been given. Truth has prevailed. I welcome him to the Tihar jail,” he added.

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, "From 'Swaraj' to 'Sharaab', from 'Anna Hazare' to 'Lalu Prasad Yadav', today what we are seeing is actually the 'satta ka nasha'... This is the first instance where the government will operate from the jail. Is this constitutionally, legally and morally possible?... This shows the transformation that has taken place that Anna Hazare has tears in his eyes and Arvind Kejriwal is in the company of Lalu Prasad Yadav..."

The AAP office in Delhi has been "sealed off" from all sides, senior leader Atishi claimed on Saturday and said the party will report the matter to the Election Commission.

In a post on X, Atishi questioned the "sealing" of the party office, saying it is against the "level playing field" promised by the Constitution.

"How can access to a national party office be stopped during the Lok Sabha election? This (is) against the 'level playing field' promised in the Indian Constitution. We are seeking time with the Election Commission (EC) to complain against this," the Delhi minister said in her post.

PTI

The workers and leaders of the INDIA bloc protested on Saturday at Shaheedi Park in Delhi against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

The leaders and workers of the INDIA bloc, who gathered at Shaheedi Park, criticized the BJP-led central government and raised slogans against it .

Raising slogans "Arvind tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hain" and "tyranny won't last," hundreds of INDIA bloc leaders and workers on Saturday came.

ANI

Punjab CM and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann said on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, “The whole country has been angry since yesterday, BJP want to bring in dictatorship in India. Since their govt was not formed in Delhi, they are not letting the govt run, L-G has been given all the powers, in Punjab their govt was not formed, so governor will interfere, in West Bengal their govt was not formed, so they want Governor to rule...BR Ambedkar's constitution is in danger. I want to appeal to the 140 crore to come and assemble or else this country is going towards destruction...”

Police detained and removed AAP workers during their protest against the arrest of Delhi CM and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP Minister Atishi says, " Today the whole nation is watching the death of democracy that is happening. One by one attacks are happening on the opposition. First the sitting CM Hemant Soren was arrested, and then Arvind Kejriwal was arrested, if one by one opposition leaders are put in jail, what is the meaning of the election? This is dictatorship..."

Amid Aam Aadmi Party's protests, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj says, " We thank all the leaders of Congress, Left and everyone who are standing with INDIA alliance and Arvind Kejriwal in this fight for democracy, to protect the election"

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal says in a statement, "...There are several forces within and outside India that are weakening the country. We have to be alert, identify these forces and defeat them...Women in Delhi must be thinking that Kejriwal is behind bars. Who knows if they would get ₹1000. I appeal to them to trust their brother, their son. There is no jail that can keep him behind bars for long. I will come out soon and keep my promise..."

She added, “...I also appeal to all the workers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that work of social welfare and public welfare should not stop with me going to jail. Don't hate BJP people due to this. They are our brothers and sisters. I will come back soon…”

A day after a Delhi court sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the custody of the Directorate of Enforcement, senior AAP leader and minister Atishi alleged that the money trail was found in the BJP's account and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ED to 'arrest' BJP national president JP Nadda.

Addressing a press conference here, Atishi asserted that, till date, no money trail has been found connected to any AAP leader.

ANI