After Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena sanctioned the prosecution of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an excise policy case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Minister Atishi accused the BJP of orchestrating a political conspiracy. Speaking at a press conference, Atishi claimed that the BJP was using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as political tools.
Atishi highlighted that Kejriwal was arrested just before the Lok Sabha elections in a case she described as false. She pointed to a sequence of events in June 2024, alleging that the BJP interfered with judicial proceedings. On June 20, Kejriwal was granted bail by a trial court in the ED case. However, Atishi noted that before the court’s order was even uploaded, the ED approached the High Court on June 21 and secured a stay on the bail order. On June 22, Kejriwal moved to the Supreme Court against the stay. Atishi claimed that after the BJP learned Kejriwal was granted bail by the Supreme Court, the CBI arrested him on June 26.
Atishi also mentioned that the CBI, after being given two weeks to file a reply by the Supreme Court, requested additional time, furthering her claims of a political conspiracy. She asserted that despite the BJP’s efforts, the truth would prevail and their plans would ultimately fail.
The central probe agency recently filed a sanction for prosecution in the Rouse Avenue Court, and a supplementary charge sheet against Kejriwal has already been submitted by the CBI. Kejriwal, who was arrested on June 26, remains in judicial custody until August 27, 2024. The court is set to consider the supplementary charge sheet on that date.
Kejriwal’s legal troubles began when he was arrested by the ED on March 21, 2024, in connection with a money laundering investigation related to alleged irregularities in the now-canceled Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.