NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party came to power in Delhi on the promise of providing corruption-free governance, has now been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy case. Following his arrest on Thursday by the central agency after two hours of questioning, the 55-year-old AAP national convener became the first sitting chief minister to have been arrested in a criminal case. The ED’s move came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant Kejriwal protection from the central agency’s coercive action.
Arrest Amidst Election Season
Kejriwal’s arrest by the central probe agency comes at a politically sensitive juncture, just before the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. His evasion of nine consecutive summons by the ED only served to intensify scrutiny on the matter.
Allegations Of Corruption And Money Laundering
The case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering related to the formulation and execution of Delhi’s excise policy for the fiscal year 2021-22, a policy that was subsequently scrapped. Notably, prominent AAP figures like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are already in judicial custody as part of the same investigation. Despite mounting pressure and public outcry, Kejriwal’s close aides, including Delhi Minister Aatishi and Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goyal, affirmed his resolve to continue governing as Delhi CM, even from behind bars. This unprecedented situation raises questions about the stability of governance in the capital city amidst the ongoing legal battle.
Historical Precedents: Ex-Chief Ministers Who Faced Legal Battles
Hemant Soren
Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, found himself embroiled in an illegal land acquisition case leading to his arrest on January 31. However, he resigned before his arrest, passing the mantle to another party member. The allegations against him included falsification of land records.
J Jayalalithaa
The late AIADMK stalwart faced multiple arrests and convictions, notably in 1996 for corruption in a TV set purchase scheme and later in 2014 in a high-profile disproportionate assets case. Jayalalithaa also became the first CM to have been convicted in a disproportionate assets case by a Bengaluru court, resulting in her disqualification as an MLA and loss of the CM’s post.
Lalu Prasad Yadav
A two-term Bihar CM, Lalu Prasad Yadav faced repeated arrests, primarily in connection with the fodder scam and allegations of amassing disproportionate assets. He received an arrest warrant in 1997 during his tenure as CM, leading to his resignation and subsequent judicial custody. Since then, he has faced multiple legal battles, including the ongoing probe into the alleged cash-for-jobs scam.
Chandrababu Naidu
The TDP leader faced accusations of financial irregularities during his tenure as Andhra Pradesh CM, leading to his arrest in 2023. Allegations centred around misappropriation of funds from the Skill Development Corporation, resulting in significant losses to the state exchequer.
Om Prakash Chautala
Former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala faced a corruption scandal pertaining to teachers’ recruitment in the early 2000s. In 2013, he and his son faced convictions on multiple counts, including cheating and forgery, resulting in both receiving 10-year prison terms. Despite pursuing appeals, their convictions remained upheld by both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court in 2015.
Madhu Koda
Jharkhand’s ex-CM faced imprisonment for corruption charges related to mining contracts during his tenure. Koda was implicated in a mining scandal, accused of accepting bribes in exchange for granting mining contracts. He and his associates allegedly amassed over Rs 4,000 crore through illegal routes. His arrest came a year after his tenure ended in 2008, and he faced further convictions in 2017.
