Kejriwal arrest: Delhi Police heightens security near BJP headquarters after AAP calls for protest

Delhi Police on Friday morning, increased security on roads leading to BJP headquarters, with heavy personnel deployment and multi-layer barricading on roads, where AAP leaders and workers are set to protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called for protests against BJP headquarters at 10 am on Friday as part of countrywide demonstrations after Kejriwal was arrested for his alleged involvement in the liquor scam.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kejriwal in an excise policy-linked money laundering case on Thursday night and took him to the agency's headquarters, officials said.

Kejriwal's arrest which is the first of a sitting chief minister, came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the agency.

Paramilitary personnel in anti-riot gears have also been deployed to maintain law and order situation in the area and roads leading to the BJP headquarters and ED office in central Delhi have been closed. 

AAP leaders had asked party workers to reach the BJP headquarters and commence a protest at 10 am on Friday against Kejriwal's arrest.

Delhi minister Gopal Rai held a midnight press conference where he asked people to protest against the “dictatorship”.

“I appeal to the countrymen to protest outside BJP offices across the country against this dictatorship. We will gather at the AAP office [in Delhi] at 10am on Friday and then protest outside the BJP headquarters,” said Gopal Rai.

According to sources, all Delhi MLAs and councillors have been asked to mobilise people at BJP headquarters and the party expects that a large number of people would be out on the streets to protest the arrest of Kejriwal, PTI reported.

Strict security measures are being carried out at Delhi borders to prevent the AAP workers from entering the national capital from neighboring states.

Instructions have been issued to detain the protestors as Section 144 has been imposed outside BJP headquarters and ED office, a senior police officer said as reported by PTI.

Huge number of buses have also been deployed to detain these protestors and send them several kilometers away from central Delhi, the officer said.

All the senior officers of Delhi Police have been asked to keep a strict vigil and a watch in their areas, he added.
Delhi Police has said that strict action will be taken if anyone tries to break the law.

Meanwhile, the traffic police have requested commuters to avoid routes leading to central Delhi as huge gathering of AAP workers are likely to be present there.

Kejriwal spent his night at the ED office located in central Delhi after his arrest in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case on Thursday night. The CM moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest on Thursday night, seeking an urgent hearing.

(with PTI inputs)