The Supreme Court of India has declined to grant an urgent hearing to Arvind Kejriwal's plea, scheduling the date for two weeks later. Consequently, the Chief Minister of Delhi and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party will remain in Tihar Jail during the polling of the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), the agency responsible for Kejriwal's arrest, did not provide a response to his plea. The Supreme Court has directed the investigating agency to respond to the Delhi Chief Minister's plea by April 27, according to reports from PTI.
Previously, Kejriwal had filed a case against the ED's arrest in the Delhi High Court, which upheld the decision of the central agency. The court stated that Kejriwal was arrested based on sufficient information in accordance with the law.
With no relief from the Supreme Court, Kejriwal's release from jail before the polls has become uncertain. However, he retains the option to apply for bail in the lower court, although there is a risk of arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) before obtaining bail.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with Delhi's Excise corruption case. He was subsequently produced before Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court, which ordered his custody with the ED until March 28. Following this, Kejriwal approached the High Court to challenge the ED's arrest and custody order, leading to his transfer to Tihar Jail on the court's directive.
Kejriwal views his arrest as a political conspiracy ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, though the ruling BJP has consistently denied such allegations.
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