Delhi HC rejects plea against Arvind Kejriwal continuing as CM under ED custody

The Delhi High Court on Thursday, March 28, rejected a PIL against Arvind Kejriwal continuing as the chief minister while under custody of the Enforcement Directorate. The court noted that there was no constitutional bar on Kejriwal continuing as the chief minister.

The court held that there was no scope for judicial interference. The court said if there is a breakdown in the constitutional machinery, it is for the Lieutenant Governor or the President to act.

Kejriwal is likely to be produced before a Delhi court today on the conclusion of his ED custodial remand. The federal probe agency had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case. The next day, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja remanded him in the ED custody till March 28.

The court remanded Kejriwal in the ED custody for six days after the agency pressed for his custodial interrogation for 10 days.

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