SC questions timing of Kejriwal’s arrest: ‘Life, liberty are exceedingly important’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) why the agency arrested Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal just before the Lok Sabha polls, NDTV reported.

Kejriwal, who is in the jail since his arrest weeks ago, challenged his arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case.

Justice Sanjeev Khanna asked the central agency to explain if it can take up criminal proceedings without completing judicial proceedings in the case.

Seeking Additional Solicitor General SV Raju to reply on the timing of the arrest, the Bench, comprising Justice Dipankar Datta, made it clear: "Life and liberty are exceedingly important. You can't deny that."

"No attachment action has been taken so far in this case, and if it has been done, then show how Kejriwal is involved in the matter," Justice Khanna was quoted as saying, adding: "Tell me, why the arrest before the general elections?"

The ED claimed to have found material in the case of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia as the Supreme Court pointed out, but in Kejriwal’s case nothing has been brought to fore.

The court ordered the ED to plain on Friday why there has been ‘huge gap between beginning of proceeding and the arrest’.

Lodged in Delhi's Tihar under judicial custody since his arrest on March 21, Kejriwal has decided to govern the state from the jail.

After he challenged arrest, the Supreme Court issued notice to ED on April 15 seeking its response.

Upholding the arrest on April 9, the Delhi High Court said there was no illegality and the ED was left with "little option" after he refused to join the investigation, skipping summons.