ED Cases Against Opposition Leaders: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by ED (Enforcement Directorate) in a money laundering case related to Delhi’s Excise Policy (2021-22). He was arrested on Thursday (21 March) night and taken to the ED office.
On March 22, ED will demand the custody of CM Kejriwal from the court. According to a report in the Indian Express, Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest fits into a larger pattern of opposition parties coming under the ambit of the organization under the BJP-led NDA regime since 2014.
According to the report, the English newspaper Indian Express had published a report in September 2022. The report was based on study of court records, agency statements, cases registered, reports of politicians who were arrested, raided or interrogated.
The report highlighted how ED cases against politicians had increased four times since 2014 compared to the previous UPA regime. Let us tell you that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi The BJP led by BJP came to power in the country for the first time in 2014.
It was told in the report that between 2014 and 2022, 121 prominent leaders came under the purview of ED investigation. Of them, 115 (95 percent) were opposition leaders who were booked, raided, interrogated or arrested.
At the same time, during the UPA regime from 2004 to 2014, ED investigated 26 leaders, out of which 14 were opposition leaders, i.e. more than half or 54 percent.
Reason for increase in ED cases
According to the report, the main reason for the significant increase in ED cases is the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A law has been strengthened since its implementation in 2005.
The provisions of this law, along with stringent bail conditions, now empower the ED to arrest the accused and attach their properties and assets. This law makes the statement recorded before an investigating officer admissible in court as evidence.
ED’s response to opposition’s allegations
The ED issue has been raised several times in Parliament by the opposition, but the Enforcement Directorate has rejected the allegations against it. It says the ED’s action is non-political and arises from cases registered earlier by other agencies or the state police.
ED investigation against so many leaders of these parties between 2014-September 2022
According to the report, party-wise opposition leaders who came under the scanner of ED between 2014 and September 2022 include 24 from Congress, 19 from TMC, 11 from NCP, 8 from Shiv Sena, 6 from DMK, 6 from BJD, 5 from RJD, 5 from BSP. K5, Samajwadi Party 5, TDP 5, Aam Aadmi Party 3, INLG 3, YSRCP 3, CPM 2, National Conference 2, PDP 2, Ind 2, AIADMK 1, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. 1 leader of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and 1 leader of BRS are included.