The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition seeking the removal of Arvind Kejriwal from his position as Delhi’s Chief Minister. The court emphasized that there is no legal basis for demanding Kejriwal’s removal and that it falls within the authority of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi to address such matters.
The petition, filed by Delhi resident Kant Bhati, challenged Kejriwal’s continued tenure as CM following his arrest in the Delhi excise policy case. However, the court ruled that Kejriwal’s position cannot be challenged through legal avenues, highlighting that it is ultimately the LG’s prerogative to take action in such cases.
During the proceedings, the bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta questioned the petitioner’s legal standing and noted that Bhati was not a petitioner before the Delhi High Court, where a similar plea had been dismissed earlier.
The high court had previously rejected a petition by former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Sandeep Kumar, who sought Kejriwal’s removal as Delhi CM. The court not only dismissed Kumar’s petition but also imposed a penalty on him for filing what was deemed a frivolous litigation.
The excise policy case, which forms the backdrop of these legal battles, involves allegations of irregularities in Delhi’s excise policy. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated an investigation based on a recommendation by Delhi’s LG in July 2022.
Arvind Kejriwal is the third AAP leader to face arrest in connection with this case. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has been in custody since February 2023, while Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court after six months of detention.
The Economic Offences Wing (ED) has accused Kejriwal of being the “kingpin” and a “key conspirator” in the alleged corruption related to the 2021-22 Delhi excise policy. The ED claims that Kejriwal, along with ministers from his cabinet and other AAP leaders, colluded with businessmen in the liquor industry for personal gain.
Sources By Agencies
