Large Scale Tampering Of Evidence, 170 Phones Destroyed: ED Challenges Plea Kejriwal's Plea In Supreme Court Against His Arrest

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in response to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea against his arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case.

The affidavit, submitted on Wednesday (24 April), states that Kejriwal was arrested following a "large-scale" tampering of evidence, including destruction of around 170 mobile phones during the period of the 'scam' and when the irregularities came out in public.

The ED asserts that the AAP leader avoided multiple summonses for interrogation, failing to appear before the investigating officer on nine separate occasions.

The affidavit clarifies that Kejriwal's arrest followed his repeated non-compliance with ED summonses and his inability to secure a judicial order against coercive steps from the Delhi High Court.

"It is only when the petitioner failed to get an order of no-coercive steps from the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court coupled with the fact that he was not obeying the summonses, his house was searched, and he was arrested," the affidavit stated.

Addressing concerns about the timing of the arrest, especially with the approaching Lok Sabha elections, the ED argued that the arrest was based on substantial evidence and was not in violation of the principles of free and fair elections.

The agency emphasised that granting arrest immunity to politicians facing criminal charges could potentially compromise the electoral process's integrity.

The ED stated in the affidavit, "The arrest of a person for an offence based on material can never violate the concept of free and fair elections. If the aforesaid argument is accepted, politicians who are criminals would be granted immunity from arrest on the ground".

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