Arvind Kejriwal knocked on the doors of the Delhi High Court. He has filed a petition seeking interim relief in the Delhi Excise Policy case.

The Chief Minister of Delhi has expressed his readiness to cooperate in the investigation of the liquor policy case but has requested the court to prevent the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from arresting him. The ED summoned him for questioning on Thursday (March 21).

Kejriwal has challenged the legality of all the summonses issued by the ED in the High Court. A hearing was held on Wednesday (March 20), during which Kejriwal's lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, demanded relief from arrest. On the other hand, the ED's lawyer, S.V. Raju, argued that the Delhi CM is avoiding appearing before the investigative agency and making excuses. 

The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for April 22.

What did Kejriwal say in his petition? In the Delhi Excise Policy case, Kejriwal has expressed apprehension about being arrested by the ED. He stated that he is willing to appear before the ED but needs assurance from the investigative agency that he will not be charged, or else the court should order that no coercive action be taken against him. Kejriwal stated, "The Enforcement Directorate should assure the court that if I comply with the summons, no coercive action will be taken against me."

AAP alleges conspiracy of arrest:

In fact, ever since the ED started summoning Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has been accusing the central government of plotting to arrest the Delhi CM. AAP leaders alleged that the ED wanted to arrest Kejriwal by summoning him for questioning. Kejriwal's lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also made these allegations during Wednesday's hearing in the High Court.

Singhvi referred to the arrests of AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia in his argument. He claimed that there is a new trend in the functioning of investigative agencies. Singhvi said that Kejriwal is ready to appear before the ED. He will answer all questions, but he needs security. He needs to avoid the summons.