Indian opposition figure arrested in alleged corruption case ahead of general election

Indian authorities on Thursday arrested the chief minister of Delhi in an alleged corruption case, a move opposition parties claimed was a political maneuver by the government of Narendra Modi just weeks before a nationwide poll.

Indian authorities on Thursday arrested the prominent opposition politician Arvind Kejriwal in an alleged corruption case, a move opposition parties claimed was a political maneuver by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi just weeks before the general election. Law enforcement officials from the Enforcement Directorate, a federal financial crime agency, arrested Kejriwal, who is both the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the chief minister of Delhi, at his house Thursday evening. The agency is investigating allegations that an alcohol policy implemented by the Delhi government in 2022, which ended its control over the sale of liquor in the capital, gave undue advantages to private retailers, according to Reuters. The policy was subsequently withdrawn. Leaders of his party have said no evidence of wrongdoing has emerged in the investigation, Reuters reported. Kejriwal’s supporters and members of other opposition parties staged protests outside his house in Delhi, calling the arrest a political move by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the action of the financial crime agency, telling local media that “this is a process of law which is being done with a view to taking appropriate action against corruption. We will only say, let the law take its course.” The arrest comes just weeks ahead of India’s general election, which AAP will contest as a partner in an alliance formed by 26 opposition political parties.