The Supreme Court will hear Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging the arrest related to the alleged money laundering case in connection with the purported Delhi Goods and Services Tax (GST) policy scam on Monday.

The Supreme Court will hear a petition challenging the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with alleged money laundering related to the Delhi liquor policy scam on Monday. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with the alleged Excise Duty policy scam. He remains in judicial custody until May 7, and the Delhi government is being run from jail.

Kejriwal, responding to a notice from the Enforcement Directorate, told the Supreme Court that his arrest in the liquor policy case is a prime example of misuse of central investigative agencies and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the BJP-led central government. He sees it as a move to crush his “biggest political rival.”

Kejriwal’s lawyer has said that the “unlawful” arrest of Kejriwal during the election season has created “serious prejudice” for his political party, and this will give the BJP an “unfair advantage” in the current Lok Sabha elections of 2024.

In addition, Arvind Kejriwal also emphasized on the circumstances surrounding his arrest, highlighting the arrest of a current CM by the ED and the detention of the national convener of one of the country’s six national parties. He argued that his arrest occurred just 5 days after the announcement of the dates for the 7 phases of the general elections and the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The Directorate of Enforcement stated in its affidavit to the Supreme Court that it was essential to arrest Kejriwal due to significant tampering with evidence, including the destruction of approximately 170 mobile phones, during the alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion scam.

Meanwhile, according to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Tihar Jail administration refused to allow Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, to meet him on April 29th. The party stated that the jail administration did not provide any reason for denying permission.

According to news agency PTI, “Sunita Kejriwal was supposed to meet him (Arvind Kejriwal) yesterday (Monday) as per AAP sources, but the Tihar administration has denied permission. The jail administration has not given any reason for denying permission.”

The Aam Aadmi Party (formerly on Twitter) posted targeting the Modi government and Tihar Jail administration. In a Hindi post, they said, “On the orders of the Modi government, the Tihar Jail administration cancelled Sunitha Kejriwal’s meeting with her husband Arvind Kejriwal. The Modi government is crossing all limits of inhumanity.”

It says, “A democratically elected chief minister is being treated like a terrorist. The Modi government should explain to the people of the country why it is not allowing Sunitha Kejriwal to meet her husband Arvind Kejriwal.”

According to the jail manual, one prisoner can meet a maximum of two people at once, and a maximum of four people in a week. Delhi Minister Atishi will meet Kejriwal on Monday, while Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet your National Coordinator in jail on Tuesday.