Kejriwal’s arrest: India protests Germany’s ‘interference’ in judicial process

Virendra Pandit

New Delhi: Reacting to Germany’s “blatant inference” in the Indian judicial process, over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest in an alleged corruption case, India on Saturday strongly protested against the European nation’s move soon after the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader was sent to seven-day custody of the quasi-judicial Enforcement Directorate on Friday.

The External Affairs Ministry on Saturday summoned a senior diplomat of the German Embassy to lodge its protest over the country’s comments on Kejriwal’s arrest in a liquor scam.

In a statement on Friday, Germany’s foreign affairs spokesperson had hoped that the “standards relating to the independence of the judiciary and basic democratic principles” would be applied in Kejriwal’s case.

“…Like anyone facing accusations, Mr Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial. This includes he can make use of all available legal avenues without restrictions. The presumption of innocence is a central element of the rule of law and must apply to him (sic),” the spokesperson said in Berlin.

Reacting to these unwarranted comments, India summoned the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy, Georg Enzweiler, and lodged a “strong protest,” calling it an “interference” in its judicial process.

“The German Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi was summoned today and conveyed India’s strong protest on their Foreign Office Spokesperson’s comments on our internal affairs. We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary. India is a vibrant and robust democracy with the rule of law. As in all legal cases in the country, and elsewhere in the democratic world, law will take its course in the instant matter. Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted (sic),” External Affairs Ministry’s spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X, formerly Twitter

Kejriwal was on Thursday night arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy-linked money laundering case.

The arrest came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the central probe agency.

The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi Government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.