00:00 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has condemned his arrest and the subsequent orders sending
00:06 him into Enforcement Directorate custody, deeming them illegal.
00:11 In a swift response, he has petitioned the High Court for an urgent hearing, seeking
00:15 his immediate release.
00:16 Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate
00:20 on Thursday in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi liquor policy
00:25 scam.
00:26 The Rao Zaveni Court in Delhi granted the agency seven-day custody of Kejriwal on Friday,
00:31 prompting his urgent legal action.
00:34 Approaching the Delhi High Court on Saturday, Mr Kejriwal has challenged his arrest and
00:38 the demand order, terming them illegal.
00:40 Seeking an urgent hearing from the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court by Sunday,
00:44 the AAP chief has claimed that he is entitled to be released from custody immediately.
00:48 Incidentally, the Delhi High Court declined to provide protection from arrest to Mr Kejriwal
00:53 on Thursday, paving the way for his subsequent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate mere
00:58 hours later.
00:59 A two-judge bench, after hearing arguments from both sides, stated, "We have heard
01:03 both sides and we are not inclined at this stage to grant protection.
01:07 The respondent is at liberty to file a reply."
01:10 In a message earlier on Saturday, which was read out by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, the
01:13 Chief Minister had urged AAP workers to continue their work for society and not hate anyone,
01:19 including people from the BJP, which his party claims has misused agencies and targeted opposition
01:23 leaders like him.
01:24 "There are several forces within and outside India that are weakening the country.
01:28 There is no jail that can keep me behind bars for long.
01:30 I will come out soon and keep my promises," he said in the message.
01:35 The ED sought custody of Kejriwal, alleging that he received kickbacks in return for favours
01:39 and played a pivotal role as the kingpin and key conspirator in the perpetrated scam.
01:44 In response, the AAP vehemently denied all accusations, labelling Mr Kejriwal's arrest
01:49 as a premeditated plot orchestrated by the BJP ahead of the elections.
01:54 The BJP, however, countered these claims, asserting that any alleged kickbacks were
01:57 utilised by the party to finance its election campaigns.
02:06 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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