Delhi: AAP supporters raise slogans against Arvind Kejriwal's arrest during IPL match, detained
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case related to the excise policy.
Arvind Kejriwal arrest: Several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters were detained by the Delhi Police for raising slogans against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest during a Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals IPL match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 this year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an excise policy-linked money laundering case.
The workers, wearing T-shirts emblazoned with 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se', raised slogans during the match in Delhi. 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se' is the AAP's campaign in response to Kejriwal's arrest in connection with a money laundering case.
AAP shares video
The official X account of AAP, shared a video featuring a group of AAP supporters chanting slogans in support of Arvind Kejriwal, along with "Bharat Mata ki Jai." In the video, the supporters are seen donning T-shirts adorned with a depiction of Arvind Kejriwal behind bars, accompanied by the slogan "jail ka jawab vote se".
"Jail ka Jawab vote se, slogans raised during the DC vs RR IPL match at Feroz Shah Kotla ground against the conspiracy of CM Kejriwal's arrest," AAP said in an X post.
In a press statement, the AAP said that its student wing, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), staged a protest against what they deemed as the "unlawful arrest" of the Delhi Chief Minister during the IPL match. "During this protest, the students wore T-shirts which had 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se' written on them. The students raised slogans against the BJP government," the statement said.
Delhi Police on protest
A senior police officer said that some persons had been detained for creating a public nuisance in one of the stands. "Our staff are deployed at various points in the stadium. We have detained some persons for creating a public nuisance in one of the stands. They are being bound down accordingly and will be released after legal formalities. We encourage all spectators to enjoy the game and not indulge in such activity in the stadium," he said.
Court on Arvind Kejriwal's bail
The protest by the supporters came hours after Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court extended the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal till May 20 in the excise policy case.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (May 7) reserved its order on the Delhi Chief Minister's plea challenging his arrest by the ED in the money laundering case linked to a liquor scam. The court did not pronounce any order on Tuesday and reserved the verdict. The top court is likely to hear the case on Thursday or next week.
Supreme Court told Kejriwal’s lawyer that if it gives interim bail to Kejriwal it doesn’t want him to be performing official duties as somewhere it will lead to conflict. "We do not want interference at all in the working of the government," it said. Supreme Court said if elections were not there then it would not have given any interim relief.
The court said, "We do not want interference at all in the working of the government. Arvind Kejriwal is the elected Chief Minister of Delhi and the current circumstances are extraordinary, given the ongoing Lok Sabha elections."
Delhi excise policy scam
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. The case originated from a report presented by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena in July 2022, highlighting purported procedural deficiencies in the development of the policy. The report said "arbitrary and unilateral decisions" taken by AAP leader Manish Sisodia in his capacity as Excise Minister had resulted in "financial losses to the exchequer" estimated at more than Rs 580 crore.
Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in the charge sheets filed by the ED in the excise policy case. The agency has alleged that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal for formulating the excise policy that resulted in undue benefits for them in return for which they paid kickbacks to the Aam Aadmi Party.
(With agencies input)