New Delhi- Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's Chief Minister and a prominent figure in Indian politics, known for his anti-corruption activism, has once again found himself in legal trouble. This recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case adds to his previous encounters with the law. However, this isn't the first time Kejriwal has faced arrest.
Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in 2012 came after the height of the anti-corruption movement that he spearheaded with Anna Hazare. Thousands of people took part in a demonstration march towards the then Prime Minister's residence demanding the sacking of Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid. There were also allegations of financial irregularities against his family-run NGO, Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust.
Kejriwal, along with other activists, was arrested during a protest march outside the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence.
Two years later, in 2014, Kejriwal once again found himself incarcerated, this time in Delhi's renowned Tihar Jail. The reason behind his two-day stay in confinement was his refusal to furnish a bail amount of Rs 10,000 in a defamation case initiated by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.
Kejriwal had labeled Gadkari as a "chor (thief)" and included him in a list of "India's most corrupt". This legal entanglement unfolded approximately two months after his resignation from the post of Delhi's Chief Minister, following a tumultuous tenure of 49 days. Kejriwal stepped down amidst allegations of collusion between the Congress and BJP to obstruct the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill, which aimed to establish an anti-corruption body.
The arrest prompted vigorous protests by AAP supporters outside the prison premises, with some even camping overnight. Prominent AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, were detained alongside numerous others. Former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav was forcibly removed from the protest site and transported by the Delhi Police.
Ultimately, the protests ceased after Kejriwal, urged by advocate Prashant Bhushan, relented and agreed to furnish the bail bond, leading to his release from Tihar Jail.
Arvind Kejriwal, born on August 16, 1968, into an Agrawal family in Siwani, Haryana, India, is known for his journey from an engineer to a prominent political figure.
He has served as the 7th and current Chief Minister of Delhi since 2015, following his initial term from 2013 to 2014. Additionally, he has been the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party since 2012. Kejriwal has represented the New Delhi constituency in the Delhi Legislative Assembly continuously since 2015 and previously from 2013 to 2014.
Raised by Gobind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi, his father being an electrical engineer from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Kejriwal spent his childhood in various north Indian towns. He received his early education at Campus School in Hisar and Holy Child School in Sonipat.
After securing a notable All India Rank (AIR) of 563 in the IIT-JEE exam in 1985, he pursued mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Joining Tata Steel in 1989, he later resigned to prepare for the Civil Services Examination, during which he engaged in voluntary work with organizations like The Missionaries of Charity and the Ramakrishna Mission.
Subsequently, in 1995, he entered the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) as an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, eventually resigning from his post as Joint Commissioner of Income Tax in New Delhi in February 2006. In 2012, Kejriwal founded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which achieved success in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election. He continues to serve as the national convenor of AAP, playing a significant role in Indian politics.
In his response to the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi has decried what he perceives as dictatorial tactics aimed at undermining democracy in India.
In a Twitter post, the MP wrote, " A scared dictator wants to create a dead democracy. While capturing all the institutions including the media, breaking up the parties, extorting money from companies, freezing the account of the main opposition party was not enough for the 'devilish power', now the arrest of the elected Chief Ministers has also become a common thing. INDIA will give a befitting reply to this."
Shashi Tharoor, Congress Member of Parliament, has urged the Supreme Court to intervene following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Tharoor emphasized the need for the Supreme Court to take suo moto cognizance of the situation, stating, "What has happened is violative of the spirit of democracy." He urged the court to swiftly address any issues that could impact the electoral process, asserting, "The court has every right to take imminent action against anything that has a material effect on the elections."
Tharoor condemned the incident as a violation of the political rights of Indian citizens, asserting, "This is fundamentally violative of the political rights of every Indian citizen." Additionally, he announced plans for a march to the Raj Bhawan at 11 am in response to the situation.
Meanwhile , SItaram Yechury condemned Kehjriwal's arrest. In a post shared on X, the Marxist leader said , " It’s the second sitting CM of the INDIA bloc to be arrested. Clearly, Modi and the BJP are in panic over people’s rejection in the ongoing elections.All opposition leaders who defected and joined the BJP are protected and patronised. They are the ‘Satya Harishchandras’! These arrests will only cement people’s desire to defeat BJP, defend democracy and Indian Constitution."
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