In a new development, the Delhi High Court has upheld the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy money laundering case, much to the dismay of the AAP party. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuing his campaigning efforts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with a particular focus on the Naxal-affected Balaghat constituency. In a separate case, the Rouse Avenue Court has issued a summons to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in the money laundering case related to recruitment in Delhi Waqf Board, asking him to appear on April 20.
Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest Upheld, Modi's Campaign Continues
Background
Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, has been embroiled in legal battles related to allegations of wrongdoing. In 2022, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against Kejriwal and other AAP officials in connection with the Delhi excise policy. The allegations included corruption and money laundering.
Recent Developments
Kejriwal's Arrest Upheld: The Delhi High Court has upheld the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy money laundering case. The court rejected Kejriwal's plea to quash the arrest warrant issued by the CBI.
Modi's Campaigning: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is actively campaigning in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. Modi has addressed rallies and met with voters, particularly in the Naxal-affected Balaghat constituency.
Amanatullah Khan Summoned: The Rouse Avenue Court has issued a summons to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in connection with a money laundering case related to recruitment in the Delhi Waqf Board. Khan has been asked to appear before the court on April 20.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. What is the Delhi excise policy case?
The Delhi excise policy case pertains to alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi government's excise policy for liquor sales. The CBI is investigating allegations of favoritism, corruption, and money laundering.
2. Why has Arvind Kejriwal been arrested?
Kejriwal has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy money laundering case. The CBI has accused him of approving the policy despite knowing that it would benefit private companies.
3. What is Amanatullah Khan's case?
Amanatullah Khan is facing allegations of money laundering related to recruitment in the Delhi Waqf Board. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has accused him of using Waqf funds for personal expenses and misappropriating crores of rupees.
4. What is Prime Minister Modi's role in these developments?
Prime Minister Modi is not directly involved in the legal cases against Kejriwal and Khan. However, his campaigning efforts are seen as an attempt to gain political advantage from the AAP's legal troubles.
5. What is the AAP's response to these developments?
The AAP has condemned the arrest of Kejriwal and the summons to Amanatullah Khan. The party has accused the BJP-led central government of political vendetta and targeting its leaders.
A historian has written a letter to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing Sonia Gandhi of removing important Nehru papers from the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in 2008. These papers include Nehru's correspondences with significant figures such as Edwina Mountbatten and Albert Einstein. The issue was allegedly discussed in the society's Annual General Meeting earlier this year, and the historian is seeking Rahul Gandhi's help in retrieving the documents. This comes after the PMML Society's term was extended, and the historian urges for the preservation of India's historical heritage.
In the recent expansion of the Shiv Sena cabinet, party chief and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde carefully balanced regional and caste considerations, as well as the upcoming civic polls. With a strong message to his party members, Shinde retained five ministers and dropped three, while also including six new faces, following a rotation policy for ministers. Despite controversy surrounding some of the dropped ministers, Shinde's focus was on expanding the party's reach across all five regions of the state.
Amidst ongoing controversy over the US presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Devin Nunes, the CEO of Truth Social, as the chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. Nunes' previous experience as the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and involvement in exposing Russian interference in the 2016 election were cited as qualifications for the role. The President's Intelligence Advisory Board provides independent advice to the President on the effectiveness and future plans of the country's intelligence community. In other news, Trump has also nominated Indian-American Harmeet Dhillon for a high-ranking position in the Department of Justice.
In a much-awaited cabinet expansion, the BJP-led Maharashtra government saw 39 new ministers being sworn in, taking its strength to 42. The coalition partners Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party received 11 and 9 ministerial berths respectively. This expansion marks the second time since 1991 that the swearing-in ceremony has been held in Nagpur, signalling the BJP's stronghold in the state. The move comes after the BJP and its allies secured a landslide victory in the state elections, gaining 235 Assembly seats.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to express his condolences for the passing of Shri SM Krishna, a well-respected leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka. Known for his dedication to improving the lives of others, Shri Krishna will be remembered for his focus on infrastructural development in the state. PM Modi also shared his personal interactions with the late leader, highlighting his profound impact and influence.
Over 50 students from Jammu and Kashmir pursuing B.Sc Nursing at Mewar University in Rajasthan are facing academic and physical challenges due to the university's failure to obtain necessary approvals for the course. The convenor of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging that the university has been misleading students with false promises and infringing on their right to seek justice. The students have been protesting for months and their future remains uncertain as the university has failed to provide a resolution. The association has also accused the university of pressurizing the students to abandon their protests and threatening suspension and fee reimbursements under the Jammu and Kashmir Student Scholarship Scheme.
In a virtual launch event for Arvind Panagariya's book on the Nehru Development Model, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed his concerns about the model's repercussions on both domestic and foreign affairs in India. He argued that the beliefs propagated by this model still hold weight in influential sectors of the country, despite efforts towards reform. He also quoted an American policymaker's infamous misinterpretation of India's interim Hindu government in 1947, and suggested that it may not have been entirely wrong.
Speaking out against his ally's stance on Electronic Voting Machines, newly elected Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah criticized the Congress for changing its tune on EVMs after their loss in recent elections. He called for consistency in opinions about the voting mechanism and emphasized that parties should not blame machines for their defeat. Abdullah also expressed his support for the controversial Central Vista project in Delhi, which has further strained relations between the NC and Congress.
The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) President has accused elected representatives of BJP in Goa of being involved in a cash-for-jobs scam. The party has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for failing to protect Goa's image from being tarnished by various scams. NSUI also highlighted the high unemployment figures in Goa and criticized the state government for misplaced priorities such as implementing mandatory uniforms in colleges while corruption continues to prevail.
With the Delhi Assembly polls only a couple of months away, the AAP has released its fourth list of 38 candidates, including incumbent CM Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi from Kalkaji. In a post on X, Kejriwal took a dig at the BJP's lack of vision and only aim of removing him from power. Meanwhile, the BJP is yet to announce its list of candidates for the Delhi polls.