Kejriwal arrest: 95% leaders targeted by ED under Modi govt are from opposition parties

Counterview Desk

Top human rights group, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), condemns the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, is meant to weaken the Aam Aadmi Party on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, weaken the Aam Aadmi Party on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, as all senior leaders and strategists of the party have been "silenced and forced out of any form of public action".

"The terror of Enforcement Directorate (ED) is so widespread that even without any case being filed, mere apprehension of ED raids and arrests have led to politicians switching sides and supporting the central ruling establishment", PUCL said in a statement.

"While corruption in public life is well known across political parties, its selective use and misuse to browbeat the opposition seems to be one of the final nails in the coffin for democracy", it added.

Text:

Chief Minister of Delhi by the ED

People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) condemns the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out in the night of 21st March, 2024 from his residence.

He was the third leader of his party arrested by the ED, under PMLA, for allegedly having received Rs. 100 crore kickbacks in the Delhi excise policy case, with Former Dy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia having been arrested 13 months ago on February, 26th 2023, Sanjay Singh, Rajya Sabha Member and spokesperson, arrested directly without any summons on 4th October, 2023.

The arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is clearly to weaken the Aam Aadmi Party on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, just as all senior leaders and strategist of the party have been silenced and forced out of any form of public action.

Arvind Kejriwal is not the first sitting Chief Minister who was arrested. Earlier, on January, 31st January, 2024, Hemant Soren, was also arrested under sections of PMLA after raids and repeated summoning.

It is clear for all to see, with the increasing trend of raiding, summoning, questioning and arresting opposition party leaders and political opponents, using ED, CBI and other agencies of the government, that the arrest of Chief Minister Hemant Soren or Arvind Kejriwal, who decided to ignore 9 summons by the ED by calling them illegal, has nothing to do with corruption.

Like with Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren's arrest was also seen as a move to destabilize the democratically elected government of Jharkhand with a clear majority. Tribal groups called it is an attack and insult to the public sentiment of Jharkhand.

Hemant Soren was the only tribal Chief Minister outside the northeastern states and has been fighting for the rights of the adivasis and the essence of Jharkhand.

The PUCL believes that these arrests are politically motivated action against the opposition governments and parties to intimidate and suppress them.

Since past few years the entire country is witness to the ED being used as a handmaiden of the central political executive in an effort to crust the democratic opposition.

The law used for the purpose is the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as amended, which gives wide ranging powers to the ED with extremely onerous bail conditions.

Law used is Prevention of Money Laundering Act as amended, which gives wide powers to ED with extremely onerous bail conditions

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court in the case of Vijay Chaudhri has given its stamp of approval to the draconian provisions of the law. It is no coincidence that 95% of the political leaders targeted by the ED under the Modi government are from the opposition.

We have been witness to a large number of cases where ED raids opposition party members, arrests or threatens to arrest them, attaches their properties and the moment these individuals switch their support, ED backs out and all the so-called sins are whitewashed.

The terror of ED is so widespread that even without any case being filed, mere apprehension of ED raids and arrests have led to politicians switching sides and supporting the central ruling establishment. While corruption in public life is well known across political parties, its selective use and misuse to browbeat the opposition seems to be one of the final nails in the coffin for democracy.

Democracy cannot survive without a level playing field with the civil society, political opposition and independent statutory and constitutional institutions holding the ruling dispensation accountable.

The recent appointment of election commissions is only one example of how these institutions are being hollowed out.

Civil society is constantly under attack through the misuse of FCRA provisions and UAPA. The political opposition is sought to be crushed through various means including income tax raids and threats from ED. The recent disclosure by the State Bank of India strongly suggest that threat of ED is used to extort money.

In this context and with the impending elections, the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal seems to be nothing else but an act of political vendetta.

PUCL once again condemns the arrest of Mr. Kejriwal and demands that he should be immediately released on bail and allowed to fully participate in the coming elections. Similarly, former CM Hemant Soren should also be released on bail.

-- Kavita Srivastava, President, V Suresh,

General Secretary, PUCL

Comments

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Priced out of life: The silent crisis in India's healthcare... who pays attention, and who takes responsibility?

By Aysha* Manisha (name changed) has been living with a disease since the birth of her third child—over ten years now—in the New Seemapuri area of North East Delhi. She visited GTB Hospital, where a doctor told her that treatment would cost ₹50,000, as the hospital would charge for the cost of an instrument that needs to be implanted in her body. Several NGOs have visited her home, yet she has received no support for treatment and continues to live with the illness. Manisha is divorced, without access to ration or pension, and lives with her three children by begging outside a temple.

From snowstorms to heatwaves: India’s alarming climate shift in 2025

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur* Climate change is no longer a future concern—it is visibly affecting every country today. Since the beginning of 2025, its effects on India have become starkly evident. These include unseasonal snowfall in hill states, the early onset of heatwaves in southern regions, a shortening spring season, and unusually early and heavy rainfall, among other phenomena.

'Incoherent, dogmatic': Near collapse of international communist movement

By Harsh Thakor* The international communist movement today lacks coherence or organizational unity. Many groups worldwide identify as communist, Marxist-Leninist, or Maoist, but most promote dogmatism, reformism, or capitulation, using revolutionary rhetoric. Some trace their origins to historical betrayals, like Trotsky’s efforts to undermine the Soviet socialist transition or the 1976 coup in China that restored a bourgeoisie under Deng Xiaoping. Others focus on online posturing rather than mass engagement. Small communist organizations exist in places like Turkey, South Asia, and the Philippines, where Maoist-led struggles continue. No international forum unites them, and no entity can forge one.

Honouring Birsa Munda requires resisting the loot of natural resources

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The legacy of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda is inseparable from the struggle to protect indigenous land, identity, and rights. On June 9, as we commemorate Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs’ Day), it is imperative to reflect not only on his life but also on the ongoing injustices faced by tribal communities in the name of “development.”

Old bias, new excuses: How western media misrepresents India’s anti-terror strikes

By Gajanan Khergamker The recent Indian military strikes on Pakistan, dubbed Operation Sindoor, have sparked a storm of international media coverage. Several prominent outlets have portrayed India as the aggressor in the escalating conflict, raising concerns over biased reporting. This commentary critiques coverage by foreign media outlets such as The New York Times , Reuters, BBC, and CNN, which have often been accused of framing India’s actions as escalatory while downplaying or omitting critical context regarding Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism. By examining historical patterns and current geopolitical dynamics, this analysis highlights the recurring selective framing, omission of evidence, and a tendency to favor narratives aligned with Western geopolitical interests over factual nuance.

Sewer deaths 'systemic crimes' rooted in caste-based oppression, economic marginalization

By Sanjeev Kumar* Despite repeated government claims that manual scavenging has been abolished in India, the relentless spate of deaths among sewer and septic tank workers continues to expose a deeply entrenched reality of caste-based discrimination, systemic neglect, and institutional failure. A press release issued by the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) paints a harrowing picture of hazardous conditions faced by sanitation workers across the country—conditions that routinely lead to fatal outcomes with little to no accountability.

Vishwamitri river revival? New report urges action on pollution, flood risks, wildlife protection

By A Representative The Vishwamitri Committee, formed by the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission, has submitted two supplementary reports on June 5, 2025, detailing efforts to rejuvenate the Vishwamitri River in Vadodara, considered Gujarat's cultural capital. The reports (click here and here ) respond to directives from a May 26, 2025, GSHRC hearing. Comprising environmentalists, urban planners, and zoologists like Neha Sarwate, Rohit Prajapati, Dr. Ranjitsinh Devkar, Dr. Jitendra Gavali, and Mitesh Panchal, the committee focuses on mitigating pollution, stabilizing riverbanks, managing flood risks, and preserving biodiversity, particularly for crocodiles and turtles.

India’s $693 billion illusion: Why our foreign exchange reserves are built on debt, not strength

By Hemantkumar Shah* India’s foreign exchange reserves have touched a staggering $693 billion, of which $586 billion is in the form of foreign currencies—primarily U.S. dollars—and the rest in gold. The government and many economists tout this as a sign of economic strength. But is this truly a matter of national pride, or should it raise concerns?

Search This Blog