On Saturday, the External Affairs Ministry summoned a senior diplomat from the German Embassy to express its objections regarding Germany’s remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
A statement by Germany’s foreign affairs spokesperson had expressed hope that the principles of judicial independence and fundamental democratic values would be upheld in Kejriwal’s case.
“…Mr. Kejriwal, like any individual facing allegations, is entitled to a fair and unbiased trial, with access to all legal avenues without constraints. The presumption of innocence is a fundamental aspect of the rule of law and should be applied to him,” the spokesperson stated.
In response to statements made by the spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry, India summoned Georg Enzweiler, the Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, and lodged a firm protest, labeling it as interference in its judicial proceedings.
“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 rule of law. As in all legal cases in the country, and elsewhere in the democratic world, law will take its own 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.
On Thursday night, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case related to the excise policy.
The arrest followed the Delhi High Court’s decision earlier in the day, denying protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive measures by the central investigative agency.
The case involves allegations of corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently annulled.