India's opposition leader Kejriwal sent to jail until April 15 in a corruption case

NEW DELHI, India, April 1: In a significant development, an Indian court has ordered the incarceration of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a prominent opposition figure, until April 15, marking a critical juncture as the nation gears up for a seven-phase national election.

Arvind Kejriwal, a key leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was arrested by India’s financial crimes investigating agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), last month over accusations linked to Delhi's liquor policy. Initially held in the custody of the ED until April 1, Kejriwal's detention has now been extended by the court.

During Monday's court proceedings, ED lawyers alleged Kejriwal's lack of cooperation, citing "evasive replies," prompting their request for the court to extend his custody to judicial custody for a further 15 days, as reported by news website Live Law.

Kejriwal's party, AAP, has vehemently denounced his arrest, branding it as "falsely fabricated" and politically motivated, especially with the imminent elections. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have denied any interference in the legal process.

Kejriwal himself directly accused Modi of orchestrating his arrest, stating, "What the prime minister is doing is not good for the country," during remarks to reporters en route to the court.

It's worth noting that preceding Kejriwal's arrest, several other senior AAP leaders were already detained in connection with the same corruption case, heightening tensions and sparking protests in the capital and the northern state of Punjab, both governed by AAP.

The unfolding scenario surrounding Kejriwal's incarceration underscores the charged political atmosphere as India braces itself for the forthcoming national elections, with the AAP leader's detention likely to reverberate across the political landscape.