Arvind Kejriwal and K Kavitha face extended judicial custody amid election season

In a significant development amid the Lok Sabha election season, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Telangana lawmaker K Kavitha, both prominent opposition politicians, have been placed in extended judicial custody for 14 days. They are currently held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, with their next court appearance scheduled for May 7. This judicial decision comes weeks before the crucial elections, casting a spotlight on the alleged liquor policy scam involving high-profile political figures.

Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), faces accusations from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of being involved in a now-defunct policy and allegedly demanding bribes to fund electoral campaigns in Punjab and Goa. His arrest on March 21 has been challenged in the Supreme Court, which, after a hearing on April 15, denied immediate relief, deferring further hearings until the end of April.

The Delhi High Court previously rejected Kejriwal’s plea, citing sufficient evidence provided by the ED to substantiate their claims. In a related health concern, Kejriwal, who has Type 2 diabetes, received an insulin shot after 32 days when his blood sugar levels spiked, following a court directive to assess his medical needs. The ED had controversially suggested that Kejriwal might have manipulated his diet to seek medical bail, an accusation that has added another layer of drama to the ongoing legal and political saga.

K Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, also faces charges from the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). She was arrested on March 15, with the allegations suggesting her involvement in a ‘South group’ that supposedly paid significant bribes for liquor license allocations. Kavitha’s bail plea outcome is expected on May 2 from Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court.

The case has also implicated other AAP leaders, including former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. While Singh has been granted bail by the Supreme Court, which noted the lack of recovered bribe money, Sisodia remains incarcerated.

The extended custody of Arvind Kejriwal and K Kavitha underscores the intense scrutiny and pressure opposition figures face in India, particularly during election seasons. The allegations of a politically motivated crackdown by the BJP highlight the deeply intertwined nature of politics and law enforcement in India. This situation not only affects the accused individuals but also has broader implications for democratic processes and the perception of judicial independence in the country.