Page 38 - Aam Aadmi Party

India summons German envoy to protest comments on Kejriwal's arrest

India on Saturday summoned the German deputy chief of mission here and lodged a strong protest against the country's foreign ministry's remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The German envoy Georg Enzweiler was summoned by officials in the external affairs ministry and told that the German Foreign Ministry's remarks on Kejriwal's arrest were an interference in India's judicial process and any "biased assumptions" were "most unwarranted", an MEA official said. A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson had "taken note" of Kejriwal's arrest. "We assume and expect that the standards relating to the independence of Judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case," the German official had said. "The German deputy chief of mission in New Delhi was summoned today and conveyed India's strong protest on their Foreign Office spokesperson's comments on our internal affairs," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "We see

AAP office in Delhi 'sealed', matter to be raised with EC, says Atishi

The AAP office in Delhi has been "sealed off" from all sides, senior leader Atishi claimed on Saturday and said the party will report the matter to the Election Commission. In a post on X, Atishi questioned the "sealing" of the party office, saying it is against the "level playing field" promised by the Constitution. "How can access to a national party office be stopped during the Lok Sabha election? This (is) against the 'level playing field' promised in the Indian Constitution. We are seeking time with the Election Commission (EC) to complain against this," the Delhi minister said in her post. Another senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that all access to the party office has been closed by the central government. "We will approach EC, the central government has closed all access to AAP head office at ITO, that too in Model Code of Conduct," he said in a post on X. The AAP office at DDU Marg near ITO in central Delhi was also blocked on Friday during a

Punjab BJP urges EC to order investigation into state's excise policy

A delegation of the Punjab BJP on Saturday urged the Election Commission of India to order an ED probe into the state excise policy, which it claimed was tailored along the lines of the one for Delhi. The delegation led by Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar comprised Union Minister Som Parkash, former union minister Vijay Sampla, former state unit chiefs Ashwani Sharma and Manoranjan Kalia, MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan, national executive member Harjit Singh and state general secretary Parminder Brar. The delegation handed over a memorandum to Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C, seeking a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the state excise policy. This came after Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case on Thursday. Speaking to reporters here, Jakhar said Punjab's excise policy was framed on the lines of the Delhi excise policy because of which ...

Sunita Kejriwal reads out message from Delhi CM Kejriwal held in ED custody

"Your son and brother Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has sent a message from the jail," Sunita Kejriwal said citing her husband

Court orders preservation of CCTV footage on plea filed by CM Kejriwal

A local court has directed to preserve CCTV camera footage on a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking the removal of a Delhi Police officer deployed for security in the court for alleged misconduct. "Application has been filed on behalf of the accused (Kejriwal) stating that the security staff/in-charge responsible for bringing him for production before the court, namely ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) AK Singh, is unnecessarily harsh and mishandled the people around the courtroom," Special Judge Kaveri Baweja noted. The application was filed by Kejriwal on Friday, along with his submissions opposing the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea for his custody. The court, however, remanded him in ED custody till March 28 in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. It further noted that, according to the plea, while producing co-accused Manish Sisodia in the case, a written complaint was filed against the officer. Kejriwal sought the court's directions to remov

Delhi excise policy case: AAP demands clarity on money trail from ED

AAP leaders have also raised questions about the links between the approver Sarath Chandra Reddy and the BJP, highlighting large donations made by the head of Aurobindo Pharma via electoral bonds

ED failed to establish money trail despite multiple raids, says Atishi

The ED has not been able to establish a money trail against any AAP leader despite multiple raids, arrests and two year-long investigations in the alleged excise policy scam, Delhi Minister Atishi claimed on Saturday. The AAP leader also said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday merely based on the statement of one Sharad P Reddy. Reddy, of Aurobindo Pharma, was arrested by the ED in November in connection with the excise policy case. He gave crores of rupees to the BJP through electoral bonds, she claimed. A local court on Friday remanded Kejriwal in ED custody till March 28 "for his detailed and sustained interrogation" regarding his role in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Atishi also challenged the ED to file a case against the BJP, saying the money trail of the so-called excise policy scam leads to the saffron party. The Delhi minister alleged that the BJP received "proceeds of crime" in its bank accounts and said the

Security personnel patrol central Delhi amid AAP's call for protest

Security personnel continue to patrol central Delhi on Saturday amid a call by the AAP to gather at Shaheedi Park to protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case. Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said all AAP MLAs, councillors and office-bearers, and INDIA bloc representatives will gather at Shaheedi Park at 10 am on Saturday -- the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev -- and take a pledge to save democracy. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will also attend the programme, Rai said. Delhi Police officials said roads leading to Shaheedi Park have yet to be shut but may be closed depending on the situation. "If they try to march or hold a protest, action will be taken," a senior officer said. Traffic may also be hit in parts of central Delhi due to heavy barricading and police deployment. A local court on Friday remanded Kejriwal in the Enforcement Directorate's custody till March 28 "for his .

Kejriwal finally brought to justice: BJP after Delhi CM sent to ED custody

The BJP on Friday welcomed a Delhi court's decision to send Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the ED's custody in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case, saying the "kingpin of the crime" has finally been brought to justice. Addressing a press conference here, Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Smriti Irani said after the court's order, the country is convinced that nobody is above the law. "The news about the court sending him to (the ED's) remand has at least convinced the country that nobody is above the law. The kingpin of the crime, Arvind Kejriwal, has finally been brought to justice," she said. "Kejriwal came with a promise of change and transparency. What he sought to do was use the state instrument to defraud the public exchequer. "Today, he stands before the law to be adjudged and prosecuted, and then made to pay for his crimes.... This is the true face of the kingpin of the crime, Arvind Kejriwal," Irani alleged. Kejriwal (55) was arrested by

Will Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal's arrest be AAP's waterloo moment?

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he launched in 2012, is today one of the most successful political startups of the last seven decades

PM 'rattled' by INDIA bloc, says Congress on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest

The Congress on Thursday claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest shows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "rattled" by the strength of the INDIA bloc and asserted that this would strengthen the alliance further in the Lok Sabha polls. Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case on Thursday. Reacting to the developments since last night, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "This is vendetta politics, it has become very clear that the prime minister (Narendra Modi) and the home minister (Amit Shah) are rattled by the INDIA bloc which is a very strong alliance. This is not an alliance of seats it is a janbandhan (people's alliance)." "It has become very clear from this step that we are going to get the mandate in this election," Ramesh told PTI. He asserted that the unity among INDIA bloc parties would increase going forward. "Only .

Arvind Kejriwal key conspirator in liquor scam, ED tells Delhi court

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking to withdraw his plea against his arrest by the ED in the excise policy-linked money laundering case, hours after the apex court agreed to hear the matter. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and said since the remand proceedings before the trial court later in the day will be clashing with the hearing in the top court, he be allowed to withdraw the plea. He said Kejriwal will contest the remand proceedings before the trial court and then come back to the apex court with another petition. "You may go there (before trial court). Just write an e-mail to the registry. We will see," Justice Khanna told Singhvi. Singhvi said, "I will write a letter to the registry. I had to mention this again before this court so that it is convenient for your lordships". The move came hours after Justice Khanna had told Singhvi that ...

Public will teach lesson to BJP, says Akhilesh Yadav on Kejriwal's arrest

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday slammed the BJP for the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying they can put leaders in jail but not the public which will teach them a lesson. "Sending the chief minister to jail and controlling news will not help them as they are weakening democracy and suppressing the voice of those who want to raise the truth," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister told reporters after meeting senior party leader Azam Khan who is lodged in a jail here. "They (BJP) can send as many leaders to jail as possible but will not be able to send the public to jail," Yadav said, adding time is the biggest factor and when time comes it will teach them a lesson. He also accused the BJP of having a 'brahmand record" (universe) of getting fake cases filed. Not only in Uttar Pradesh, look anywhere else, fake cases are being filed everywhere and because of the electoral bonds expose, look at what is happening in Delhi also. Will the country ..

INDIA bloc to raise objection against 'targeting' of Oppn leaders with EC

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee condemned the arrest of Delhi CM Kejriwal; said INDIA bloc will meet with the Election Commission to object against the 'deliberate targeting' of Opposition leaders

Delhi excise policy scam: After arrest, Kejriwal approaches lower court

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 following his plea for relief against coercive action by the ED in the Delhi High Court was denied

Kejriwal's arrest latest in liquor policy 'scam': Who else is behind bars?

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on Thursday, for his alleged role in skewing the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy 2021-2022

Firm gave BJP Rs 25 cr in donations after director's arrest: Bharadwaj

Senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday claimed that a pharmacy firm paid Rs 25 crore to the BJP through electoral bonds after its director was arrested in the excise policy case. Addressing a press conference here, Bharadwaj also said that there was a threat to the life of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy-linked money laundering case on Thursday night. "It is being repeatedly said that there is threat to the life of Kejriwal who has been arrested without any evidence," Bharadwaj said. A Hyderabad-based Pharma company whose director was arrested by ED in the excise policy case paid Rs 25 crore in electoral bonds to the BJP in November 2022, he alleged. "So the money trail and proceeds of crime in this excise case are heading to the BJP," he said. The minister said there was no evidence of any money trail or proceeds of crimes against AAP and Kejriwal as was being charged. Bhar

Explained: What is Delhi excise policy case and why was Kejriwal arrested?

The ED has alleged that the liquor policy 'scam' was to give wholesale liquor business to private entities with a fix margin of 12%, for a 6% kickback

Arvind Kejriwal arrest: Here are the routes to avoid amid AAP protests

With protests planned by AAP workers at the BJP headquarters, the traffic police advised commuters to avoid Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg which has been closed for traffic movement

Punjab CM Mann slams arrest of Kejriwal, says AAP will stand behind him

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday flayed the arrest of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, saying the Centre can arrest the Delhi chief minister but cannot imprison his thinking. Mann said the AAP will stand like a rock behind Kejriwal. "You may arrest Arvind Kejriwal but how will you imprison his thinking...Arvind Kejriwal is not an individual but an idea and we stand with our leader like a rock...Inquilab Zindabad," Mann posted in Hindi on X. Mann left for Delhi on Friday where he will meet senior AAP leaders, sources said. He is also likely to meet Kejriwal's family in the national capital. Earlier on Thursday, AAP leaders in Punjab and Haryana had slammed the BJP government for the arrest of Kejriwal, alleging the "dictatorial regime was making a mockery of constitutional norms." Congress leaders from the two states also slammed the Centre for Kejriwal's arrest. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday night in an excise policy-linked money .