Delhi, India, March 22 (HBTV): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested the Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief on Thursday, March 21, in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy scam. 

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court had refused to grant any interim protection from coercive action to the AAP chief. Kejriwal has reportedly been arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.   

Two hours after the high court's ruling, the agency’s officials reached Kejriwal’s residence for questioning even as AAP workers protested outside the house.                            

Kejriwal will be produced before a special court on Friday, March 22, reports said.

A team from the ED arrived at Kejriwal's residence on Thursday to interrogate him. Kejriwal was arrested amid dramatic circumstances, with the AAP convener failing to obtain interim protection from arrest from the Delhi High Court.  

Meanwhile, following the arrest of the chief minister, the police bolstered security near the Aam Aadmi Party office in Delhi. 

AAP leaders have declared that the arrest is a desperate move by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to silence the opposition's voice ahead of the elections.  

Member of the Rajya Sabha and senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the ‘INDIA Alliance has to decide what to do. I have been saying since the beginning that the alliance has to come together against all of this. The whole case is based on the statements of the approver; there are no proofs; this is a mockery of the democracy.’       

(With inputs from ANI)