The Delhi High Court dismissed chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and Enforcement Directorate remand in the excise policy case on Tuesday. After the setback from the High Court, the Aam Aadmi Party said that Kejriwal will move the Supreme Court for relief.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, in its order today, said Kejriwal collected kickbacks as the AAP’s national convenor.
“The material collected by ED reveals Mr Arvind Kejriwal conspired and was actively involved in use and concealment of proceeds of crime. The ED case also reveals that he was involved in his personal capacity as well as convenor of AAP,” read the court order.
The HC said there cannot be any specific privilege for any one including the Chief Minister.
“This court is of the opinion that the accused has been arrested and his arrest and remand has to be examined as per law and not as per timing of elections,” the High Court said.
‘JUDGES ARE BOUND BY LAW NOT POLITICS’: HC
The HC further said that Kejriwal’s challenge to timing of arrest before General elections in absence of any mala fide on part of ED is “not sustainable”.
It said that casting aspersions on process of pardon and approver is like questioning the credibility of the judge. “We hold that judges are bound by law not politics. Judgements are given on legal principles not political considerations,” the HC remarked.
The High Court further said that the ED was in possession of enough material which had led them to arrest Kejriwal. “Non joining of investigation by Kejriwal, delay caused by him was also impacting those in judicial custody,” it said.
“The present case is not a case between the Central government and Mr Kejriwal but between Mr Kejriwal and ED. The Court must remain vigilant that it is not influenced by any extraneous factors,” it said.
The Delhi High Court, last week, had reserved the order on Kejriwal’s plea. The chief minister had challenged his arrest and his remand in the Enforcement Directorate’s custody.