‘I have dedicated my life to the country’: Arvind Kejriwal’s first reaction after arrest

New Delhi:

In his first reaction a day after his arrest, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he has dedicated his life to the country.

When being taken to court by the Enforcement Directorate, the AAP chief said in Hindi in reply to reporters’ questions: “I have dedicated my life to the country. Even if I am behind bars, I will continue to serve the country.”

Mr Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate at around 9pm on Thursday, becoming the first sitting chief minister to face such action. He was arrested in a money laundering case related to the canceled Delhi liquor policy in 2021-22, with the probe agency alleging that he and his party received kickbacks in exchange for favors.

The AAP claimed there was a conspiracy behind his arrest and organized nationwide protests.

“Key Conspirator”

Kejriwal appeared before the Delhi Laws Avenue court on Friday after spending a night in ED custody. The financial crime agency has sought a 10-day detention of the chief minister, claiming he was the “mastermind” and key co-conspirator in the scam.

According to the ED, the total proceeds from crime were Rs 6 billion. It claimed that Delhi’s liquor policy provides extremely high profit margins of 12 per cent to wholesalers and nearly 185 per cent to retailers. Of the 12 per cent, six were recovered from wholesalers as kickbacks to AAP leaders, while a lobby group called the South Group had allegedly given money to Vijay, another accused in the case. An advance of Rs 100 crore was given by Vijay Nair, who has links to Delhi’s ruling party. .

BRS leader K Kavitha, who was allegedly a member of the Southern Group, was arrested by the ED last week in the case.

“He (Mr Kejriwal) was directly involved in the implementation of the policy and providing benefits to Southern Group. He solicited kickbacks in exchange for the benefits… This is corroborated by the statements. He was involved in the proceeds of crime Use, additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing before the court, told the court on Friday.

Senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the chief minister, said there was no need to arrest him and the money trail claimed by the agency would at best be grounds for inquiry.