In a move met with criticism from opposition parties, a court in India has ordered the detention of top opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal for two weeks, shortly before the upcoming national election. The decision follows his initial 10-day custody under a federal agency, a case widely perceived as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government’s crackdown on political rivals ahead of the polls later this month.
Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party and New Delhi’s chief minister, was arrested by the federal Enforcement Directorate on March 21. The agency, under the control of Modi’s government, alleged that Kejriwal’s party and ministers accepted bribes totaling 1 billion rupees ($12 million) from liquor contractors nearly two years ago.
The arrest triggered protests by party activists and other opposition parties. The Aam Aadmi Party vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that Kejriwal would remain in his role as chief minister while contesting the case in court. The party is a key member of the opposition alliance, INDIA, poised to challenge Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in the elections.
The court extended Kejriwal’s custody multiple times, eventually ordering his judicial detention until April 15 after his previous custody expired. The Enforcement Directorate cited Kejriwal’s alleged non-cooperation as grounds for seeking his custody again for further investigation.
Kejriwal’s case has become a focal point in India’s political landscape ahead of the elections, with opposition parties accusing the government of using federal agencies to target political opponents. The government denies these allegations, asserting the agencies’ independence.
The detention of Kejriwal is viewed as a blow to the opposition bloc, which launched its election campaign with a rally in New Delhi, condemning his arrest along with other colleagues. Kejriwal maintains his innocence, describing his arrest as a political conspiracy and accusing investigative agencies of being manipulated for political gains.
As the election season heats up, Kejriwal’s detention underscores the heightened political tensions and controversies surrounding the use of law enforcement agencies in India’s electoral process.