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Synopsis

As of now, the Supreme Court has considered it fit to follow protocol in the hearing of Arvind Kejriwal, as he approached the top court for an urgent hearing against yesterday’s Delhi High Court judgment.

The CJI DY Chandrachud led bench told the senior lawyer representing him to “Send an Email”, instead of hearing the case on a mentioning.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the judgment of the Delhi High Court relied on a document which was suppressed from the accused Chief Minister. However, the bench said that an email will be in line.

As the day proceeds, the plea is expected to come up.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court of India challenging the Delhi High Court's dismissal of his petition contesting his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy scam.

The High Court prima facie opined that 'Kejriwal played an active role in concealing'. Furthermore, the court emphasized ED's investigation that suggested Kejriwal’s involvement in both his individual capacity and in his role as the national convener of AAP. 

In response to Kejriwal's accusations of questioning the legitimacy and accuracy of the approver's testimonies, the bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma asserted that 'doubting or casting aspersions on the statements of an approver is tantamount to undermining the integrity of the judicial process itself'.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 late evening. He has been in ED's custody since.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had conducted searches at Delhi Chief Minister's residence following the Delhi High Court's decision to deny him protection from coercive action in an excise policy-related money laundering case.

A Bench comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Manoj Jain denied interim protection to Kejriwal and listed his application for further consideration on April 22.

However, after his arrest, the ED’s remand application was as accepted and the central agency was granted six days of remand, after which it was further extended till April 1. 

Following this, the same court at Rouse Avenue, Delhi then remanded him to judicial custody to April 15.

Kejriwal had also approached the Delhi High Court seeking immediate release from remand on March 27, a plea which was rejected.

The case against Kejriwal & allies involves allegations of corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of Delhi's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped. 

Meanwhile, upon arrest, outside Kejriwal's residence, a crowd gathered, including AAP MLAs and party leaders, protesting the ED's actions. AAP leaders criticized the BJP and ED, alleging political conspiracy and misuse of power to target Kejriwal.