Supreme Court's Strong Remarks On Arvind Kejriwal's Appeal Against Arrest

During Monday's hearing, Arvind Kejriwal's counsel told the court that one can be arrested only on evidence of guilt, "not mere suspicion".

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's challenge to his arrest despite his refusal to give a statement to the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor policy case was questioned by the Supreme Court on Monday. "If you do not go for recording of Section 50 statements, you cannot take the defence that his statement was not recorded," said Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was part of the two-judge bench hearing the case.

Section 50 of the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) deals with the power of ED officials to issue summons and production of documents, evidence and other materials.

In his petition, Mr Kejriwal has argued that his arrest is illegal and so is his custody. Its motive was political, made clear by the timing - ahead of the general elections. "The attempt is to decimate a political party and topple an elected government of the NCT of Delhi," his plea read.