Kejriwal moves HC against arrest in excise policy case

New Delhi, Agencies: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday moved the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and a trial court's six-day remand order in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

In his plea that also sought urgent hearing, Kejriwal, who was arrested by the ED on Thursday night, contended that his arrest and remand were illegal and he was entitled to be released from custody immediately.

AAP sources said Kejriwal's legal team urged the high court to hear the plea urgently, preferably on Sunday, but the court is unlikely to grant an urgent hearing.

According to highly placed court sources, the plea is unlikely to be heard before March 27 as the court is closed for Holi break.

The move by the chief minister came even as his wife Sunita Kejriwal in a video statement read out his message sent from the ED custody in which the AAP chief said he cannot be kept behind bars for long and he will return soon to fulfil his promises to the people.

Amid a renewed demand by the BJP for his resignation, the CM also said he was not surprised at his arrest and that the "BJP people" need not be hated for this as they are "our brothers and sisters."

India protests German remarks on CM arrest

The Centre described the German Foreign Ministry’s remarks calling for a ‘fair and impartial trial’ for Kejriwal as ‘interfering in India’s judicial process’.

The Union Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday summoned the Germany Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi Georg Enzweiler to protest the German Foreign Ministry’s comments on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.