As reported on Tuesday by Indian Express, the bail plea requested by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (Chairman of Aam Admi Party) has been opposed in a recent affidavit filled by ED. Kejriwal is suffering a judicial custody in Tihar Jail in a money laundering case which is linked to the Delhi Excise Policy Scam.
Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer had applied for the interim bail for the upcoming election’s campaign. Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the bail arguing that “he is not even a candidate for the elections”. Even if he was a candidate, it’s not the fundamental right to go out for the election campaign. They further added that, “In our knowledge, not a single politician have been entertained with the interim bail just to appear in the election campaign, so far”.
The Delhi CM along with other ministers are arrested because they are accused of a scam in excise policy which they had drafted last year to boost the tax collection from liquor products. It was reported that the policy had several flaws and resulted in Revenue loss instead. BJP government accused AAP of favoring some business men in liquor licensing to later take the benefit in election campaigns.
These allegations led to a investigation which raised concerns over the transparency of AAP government in the matter. AAP members were arrested on different occasion after ED filled a case against them in Supreme Court of India. As per the India Law, a person accused in the Money Laundering Case cannot get the bail until he proves himself innocent. This “Guilty until proven innocent” policy has put question mark over India’s claim of being a democracy.
Indian National Congress (INC) has accused the government for trying to weaken the opposition parties by these tactics. Even at international level, their have been many voices raised asking the government to maintain the Democratic values in the coming elections.
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