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Law and JusticeIndia

India opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal to remain in jail

April 1, 2024

Kejriwal was arrested earlier this month, just weeks before national elections in India, in a probe into the alleged corrupt allocation of liquor licenses. He says the charges are politically motivated.

https://p.dw.com/p/4eJ2X
Arvind Kejriwal leaves Rouse Avenue Court after appearing in a liquor case on March 28
Kejriwal blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modifor his arrestImage: Hindustan Times/Sipa USA/picture alliance

A court in India on Monday ordered the prominent opposition politician and Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, remanded in custody until April 15.

Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was detained on March 21 in connection with corruption allegations related to the city's liquor policy. He denied the charges.

India's financial crime investigating agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), had arrested Kejriwal and asked the court to remand him as he was "non-cooperative" and was "giving evasive replies."

He was transferred to prison as investigations continue, his party said.

"Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days," Sanjeev Nasiar, legal chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), told reporters.

Most of AAP's senior leadership had already been imprisoned in the same graft case before Kejriwal's arrest.

Top opposition figure arrested in India ahead of elections

Opposition cries foul

His arrest weeks ahead of the general elections has sparked large opposition demonstrations.

They accuse the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of stifling opponent voices and undermining democracy.

Besides AAP, other opposition parties are also entangled with legal actions from federal agencies which they allege are "politically motivated."

Blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi Kejriwal said, "What the prime minister is doing is not good for the country." 

The BJP denies targeting the opposition and says law enforcement agencies act independently.

India's Foreign Ministry had summoned the United States and German diplomats after they expressed concern over Kejriwal's arrest last week. 


mfi/lo (Reuters, AP)