In a significant development, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested by India's Enforcement Directorate (ED), the country's financial crime agency. The arrest comes in connection with corruption allegations linked to the city's liquor policy, as stated by Kejriwal's party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

This arrest on Thursday marks a troubling turn of events for the AAP, with their main leaders now behind bars. Last year, two of Kejriwal's deputies were also arrested in the same case, which the party has vehemently criticized as "dirty politics." Atishi Singh, Delhi's finance minister, has denied the allegations and expressed the party's intention to challenge the arrest. She mentioned that an urgent hearing has been requested from the Supreme Court on the matter.

Despite his arrest, Kejriwal will continue serving as Delhi's chief minister as his party gears up to fight the accusations. Singh firmly believes that Kejriwal's arrest is nothing but a "political conspiracy" orchestrated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The ED is currently investigating claims that the liquor policy implemented by the Delhi government in 2022 favored private retailers excessively, thereby ending the government's control over liquor sales in the capital. Kejriwal's administration had introduced this controversial policy, which has since been withdrawn. The AAP maintains that no evidence of wrongdoing has surfaced during the investigation, with Kejriwal himself claiming that if he is corrupt, then there is nobody in the world who is honest.

Kejriwal is expected to appear before a court on Friday, where the charges against him will be made public. Local media reports suggest that the ED had previously issued nine summons to Kejriwal for questioning, but he refused to respond, citing fears of arrest. He had also sought legal protection against arrest, apprehensive that it would weaken his party in future elections.

Responding to the news, Virendra Sachdeva, the head of BJP's Delhi office, accused Kejriwal of making excuses to avoid explaining his involvement in the case. Sachdeva stated that today marks an end to the political theatrics Kejriwal engaged in and proclaimed it as a victory for truth.

Kejriwal's lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued in court that the ED was being manipulated by the Modi government to undermine the AAP ahead of India's national elections. Opposition parties have expressed concern over the arrest, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi noting that the arrest of elected chief ministers has become distressingly common.

The AAP, which translates to "common man's party" in Hindi, was founded by Kejriwal in 2011. As news of his arrest broke, his supporters gathered outside his residence and clashed with security forces, further intensifying the situation.