“I told him many times to avoid liquor, but he made the policy for more money.” This is considered one of many scathing remarks by social activist Anna Hazare on the arrest of his former mentee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, within the liquor policy case. While a number of opposition leaders have come out in help of Mr Kejriwal, Anna Hazare has mentioned that the Aam Aadmi Party should not have made the liquor coverage.

“I am very saddened, that a man like Arvind Kejriwal, who used to work with me and had raised his voice against liquor, today he is preparing liquor policy,” he mentioned.

“But what can be done? He got arrested due to his deeds. Had he not done anything, there was no question of his being arrested. Whatever happens now should happen according to the law,” the activist added.

#WATCH | Ahmednagar, Maharashtra: On ED arresting Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Social activist Anna Hazare says, “I am very upset that Arvind Kejriwal, who used to work with me, raise his voice against liquor, is now making liquor policies. His arrest is because of his own deeds…” pic.twitter.com/aqeJEeecfM

— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2024

Anna Hazare was the face of the anti-corruption motion in 2011, from which the AAP emerged. At the time, whereas selecting to remain out of the occasion — avoiding electoral politics — he gave it his “blessings”. But he has since criticised the occasion on a number of factors. Mr Kejriwal and his occasion have prevented direct counters.

The ED’s case is that the Delhi liquor coverage 2021-22 supplied an exceptionally high-profit margin of 12 per cent for wholesalers and practically 185 per cent for retailers. Of the 12 per cent, 6 per cent was to be recovered from wholesalers as kickbacks for AAP leaders, and the “South Group” allegedly gave Rs 100 crore prematurely to a different accused, Vijay Nair, who was linked to the AAP.

Mr Hazare has previously too spoken towards the coverage. he had written a letter to Arvind Kejriwal in 2022 expressing his “pain” over the coverage.

“This is the first time I am writing to you since you became chief minister, because I am pained at recent news reports about your government’s liquor policy. Like liquor, power too intoxicates. You are intoxicated by power, it seems,” Anna Hazare had written in the letter to Mr Kejriwal.

Arvind Kejriwal will continue as the Delhi Chief Minister regardless of the arrest, AAP has asserted. Mr Kejriwal, sources mentioned, will now method a trial court docket towards the arrest, in accordance with protocol. The Chief Minister – who spent the evening on the ED’s workplace on Delhi’s Abdul Kalam Road – may even be produced earlier than a particular court docket that offers with the probe company’s circumstances.