Arvind Kejriwal becomes first sitting Indian CM to be arrested

New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Thursday arrested in the alleged liquor policy scam, becoming the first sitting chief minister to be arrested in the history of the country, reported NDTV.

A 12-member team of the country's Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Delhi CM Kejriwal at his residence in North Delhi’s Civil Lines this evening.

The ED team reached his residence and began questioning after Delhi High Court refused to grant the CM protection from coercive action in the excise policy case earlier today, according to Indian Express.

"We have received news that the Enforcement Directorate has arrested Arvind Kejriwal," Delhi education minister Atishi Marlena Singh told reporters, referring to India's main financial crimes investigation agency.

The arrest was made in connection with allegations that a liquor policy implemented by the Delhi government in 2022, which ended its control over sale of liquor in the capital, gave undue advantages to private retailers. The policy was subsequently withdrawn.

The ED in a press note had called Mr Kejriwal a "conspirator" in the case.

According to the allegations, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha allegedly conspired with Kejriwal, and AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh while framing the now-scrapped liquor policy case.

The alleged conspiracy involved making a policy that would benefit a liquor lobby from southern India, which the ED had called the "South Lobby".