Breaking: Special Bench Headed By Justice Sanjeev Khanna To Hear Today Arvind Kejriwal's Plea Challenging Arrest By ED

The Supreme Court has allowed the urgent hearing of Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his Arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy scam. Kejriwal was arrested late in the evening on March 21. 

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Kejriwal. He submitted, "I would like to mention a matter of some significance and urgency. My Lords, if this process goes on. I am very sorry to say that, before the first vote is caste a lot of senior leaders will be behind bars. I am imploring your lordships to take it urgently, either in the middle of the board or the end of the board. It has happened last night at 9'o clock and at 10'o clock, we again send an email."

The Bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud also comprising of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra asked Singhvi to approach the Bench led by Justice Sanjeev Khanna.  

When Singhvi, mentioned the matter before Justice Khanna, he said that a Special 3-Judge Bench will be constituted to hear the plea, after the present Bench also comprising of Justice Dipankar Datta rises. By the time Singhvi mentioned the matter before the Bench of Justice Khanna, the three judge bench sitting in that Court, also comprising Justice Bela Trivedi had risen after hearing BRS MLC K Kavitha's plea againt arrest.

The AAP moved the Apex Court on Thursday (March 21) late in the evening after the ED arrested Kejriwal. The agency took him to its headquarters in central Delhi. The Delhi CM's legal team attempted to get a late night hearing from the Supreme Court. However, no special Supreme Court Bench was set up on Thursday night to hear the CM's plea challenging his arrest. 

The arrest of the first sitting Chief Minister came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the agency.

In a day of fast-paced developments, a 10-member ED team led by an additional director reached his official residence on Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines in the national capital soon after the High Court's order and carried out searches. He was arrested more than two hours after the ED team arrived at his residence, according to reports. 

Kejriwal has repeatedly refused to appear before the federal anti-money laundering agency, calling the summonses illegal. The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering while formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021–22, which was later scrapped.

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are in judicial custody in the case. Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in the charge sheets filed by the ED. The agency has alleged that the other accused were in touch with Kejriwal for formulating the excise policy that resulted in undue benefits to them in return for which they paid kickbacks to the AAP.

Cause Title: Arvind Kejriwal v. Directorate of Enforcement [W.P. (Crl.) No. 13598/2024]