New Delhi, India – Authorities in India detained Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi and a prominent opposition figure, on Thursday in connection with an alleged money-laundering case. Supporters of Kejriwal claim that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has orchestrated the charges against him.
Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party which governs the Indian capital and the state of Punjab, becomes the second opposition leader arrested recently. The arrest of Hemant Soren, the leader of Jharkhand state, in January over a suspected land scam also raised concerns about the BJP’s tactics.
Accusations of selling liquor licenses and receiving kickbacks from vendors have been levied against Kejriwal and his allies by the BJP since 2022. The Enforcement Directorate in India has alleged that Kejriwal’s party accepted millions of dollars from a liquor group, although Kejriwal has denied any wrongdoing.
In the midst of these allegations, opposition parties have expressed growing concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP using federal investigative agencies to suppress political opponents ahead of the national elections set to commence on April 19. Several leaders from Kejriwal’s party, seen as formidable rivals to the BJP on the national stage, have already been imprisoned in connection with the liquor case.
The Indian National Congress, another opposition party, has also accused the BJP of utilizing tax agencies to impede their operations in preparation for the upcoming elections. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi revealed that their party’s bank accounts have been frozen by the government as part of a long-standing tax case, hampering their ability to access funds.
Following Kejriwal’s arrest, Gandhi condemned the government’s actions as being authoritarian in nature. The Aam Aadmi Party announced plans to challenge the arrest in the Supreme Court while their supporters gathered outside Kejriwal’s residence in protest, leading to altercations with law enforcement.
Amidst the political turmoil, BJP officials have stood by their claims of corruption against Kejriwal, justifying his arrest. The events surrounding Kejriwal’s detention have sparked intense debate on the fairness and transparency of Indian elections, especially regarding the BJP’s influence over campaign financing.
Recent revelations from a Supreme Court ruling have shed light on campaign financing practices, prompting concerns about the BJP’s overwhelming share of donations from companies since 2018. These revelations have fueled criticism from the opposition, questioning the integrity of the electoral process in India.