New Delhi: On Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal withdrew his plea from the Supreme Court against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a case related to money laundering associated with the excise policy.
Kejriwal’s lawyers stated that he would challenge the proceedings in the trial court and then return to the apex court with a new petition.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and requested to withdraw the plea due to the clash with the remand proceedings scheduled in the trial court later in the day. Justice Khanna permitted the withdrawal and advised Singhvi to inform the registry via email.
This decision came after Justice Khanna informed Singhvi that Kejriwal’s petition against his arrest would be heard by a three-judge bench later in the day. Kejriwal had approached the Supreme Court on Thursday following his arrest by the ED.
Hours earlier, the Delhi High Court had declined to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the agency. Kejriwal’s name has been mentioned multiple times in the charge sheets filed by the ED, alleging that he was involved in formulating the excise policy that led to undue benefits for certain individuals in exchange for kickbacks paid to the AAP.
