Asia

Arvind Kejriwal: Delhi’s chief minister arrested over corruption claims

Prominent opposition politician and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested by India’s financial crime agency, his party said.

The arrest is in connection with corruption allegations relating to the city’s policies over alcohol sales.

Mr Kejriwal and his party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), deny any wrongdoing and say the case is politically motivated.

His arrest comes weeks before voting begins in India’s general election.

Police surrounded Mr Kejriwal’s home on Thursday as it was searched by members of the Enforcement Directorate agency.

The case is over allegations that an alcohol sale policy implemented by the Delhi government in 2022 – which ended the government monopoly – gave undue advantages to private retailers.

Mr Kejriwal has ignored numerous summonses in the case.

The AAP has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing “dirty politics” and says it will seek an urgent hearing at the Supreme Court to secure Mr Kejriwal’s release.

India’s general election will take place in seven phases over April and May, with the results to be announced on 4 June.

Ahead of the vote, opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP government of misusing government agencies for political ends.

Dilip Pandey, AAP lawmaker and chief whip in the Delhi assembly, told the BBC the arrest shows that Mr Modi “is scared of Kejriwal”.

“They can arrest Kejriwal but not his thoughts. We will continue to fight his arrest and the unjust policies of Mr Modi’s government,” Mr Pandey said.

Two other AAP leaders, Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia, were arrested last year in the same case.

They are among several prominent opposition leaders subject to criminal investigations many say are politically motivated.

Rahul Gandhi, the most prominent member of the opposition Congress party, was convicted of criminal libel last year after a complaint by a member of the BJP.

His two year prison sentence saw him disqualified from parliament for a time until the verdict was suspended by a higher court, but this has raised concerns over the state of democracy in India.

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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