Then Modi said. Let there be actions, and there were actions. Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Arvind Kejriwal on March 21, barely days after the Model Code of Conduct for the General Election 2024, which was announced on March 16. He is currently detained in the Tihar Jail for money laundering. Now he is alleged to have got funding from terrorist organisation. Election is the occasion on which Modi’s officials were able to find out all sorts of criminal activity of Arvind Kejriwal in the name of national interest, which remained secret for “super active officials” of Modi government for years.

Only four days ago on May 3, the Supreme Court of India, while hearing his case of alleged “illegal detention”, has said that it was inclined to consider granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on account of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The court asked the Additional Solicitor General S V Raju appearing on behalf of the ED to come prepared on this aspect when it takes up the matter on May 7.

The bench comprised of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta had informed the ED, “Let me make it clear, we may consider interim bail because of election.” The judges underscored that they did want to catch the law enforcement agency by surprise on the next day of hearing.

We all know how intrigues and villainy operate when the governments are hell bent on keeping any adversary in jail for an indefinite period of time. They are simply detained under some draconian law. The government machineries are always ready with other cases too, so that they may rearrest them if any court gives them bail. Just when the detained persons come out of jail, they are arrested again, and put again behind the bar. This cycle goes on depending the sweet will of the ruler. Courts are found themselves helpless under such a cycle of intrigues and villainy, and rarely it is broken. In only a few cases, we find a judge committed to delivering justice, who breaks such a vicious cycle of villainy and intrigue.

One can see the intrigue and villainy in the LG’s latest order against Kejriwal, after the Supreme Court bench had informed the ED that they intend to consider interim bail to Kejriwal. Only a day before hearing on May 7 in the Supreme Court, a case has been readied so that in case of Kejriwal getting bail, he can be rearrested in the new case.

Out poor Lieutenant General, has exposed himself of his complicity in the intrigue and the villainy of the ruling establishment. LG V K Saxena has recommended a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe against the AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal for getting terror funding from a banned terrorist organisation “Sikh for Justice”. His recommendation is based on a complaint made by the World Hindu Federation India (WHFI).

It should be noted that the AAP Supremo Kejriwal has been put in jail, just before election in Delhi’s liquor policy 2021-22 case. Though the policy was cleared by LG V K Saxena, he had recommended a CBI inquiry in July 2022 for alleged bribe in policy making. CBI made several arrests in this case including ministers in Delhi government. ED also made several arrests on the basis of CBI case for money laundering.

The entire case depended on the statements of an accused who was arrested by ED. After his arrest, his company donated BJP electoral bonds worth cores of rupees. Then, his status of an “accused” was changed to an “approver” after giving him pardon. A photograph has appeared in the media of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the father of the “approver” who has been given parliamentary ticket by BJP’s ally TDP, indicating a thread that connects the entire episode.

The Supreme Court bench while considering the interim relief to Mr Kejriwal said, “While granting interim bail, we examine whether there will be any misuse or if the person is a hardened criminal. That is not the cases here.” This comment must be taken into consideration by even the NIA in the new case for receiving terror funding by Arvind Kejriwal, under terror law, as has been recommended on May 6 by Lieutenant Governor.

Opposing such a relief to Arvind Kejriwal, ED said that it would send a “wrong message” to the common man and accordingly encouraged the Court to not carve out any exceptions solely for politicians. The agency also flagged that the Delhi CM had evaded its summons in the Delhi excise policy case on nine prior occasions.

ED’s allegations was that the bribes taken in the Delhi liquor scams were used in the 2022 Goa elections. The Supreme Court had also asked difficult question to the ED, such as how did Rs100 crore of bribe money suddenly become Rs1100 crore? It is worth recalling that ED had alleged earlier that the political party (AAP) was paid Rs100 crore as bribe. ED has also said during hearing in the Supreme Court today that arrest of criminal politicians does not affect free elections.

The Supreme Court said that if jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is released on interim bail, he won’t be allowed to perform official duties as it “may have a cascading effect”. The bench has, however, reserved order on bail. The country is in the third phase of general election today, and several opposition leaders have been arrested so far across the country on one or the other charges. Opposition has alleged PM Narendra Modi of distorting the level playing field through raids, arrests, summons and financially crippling the opposition campaigns during the General Election 2024, in which he and his party are seeking for their third term. (IPA Service)