US closely monitoring Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest; reiterates fair, transparent legal process

The US government stated on Tuesday that they are closely monitoring the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and support a fair, transparent, and prompt legal process. "We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. We encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Ministry of External Affairs officials summoned the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena to its office in South Block in Delhi and lodged a strong protest against a US State Department official's remarks on Kejriwal's arrest.

During the State Department briefing, Miller addressed a question about India summoning Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena in New Delhi earlier in the day and the freezing of the Congress party's bank accounts. "I'm not going to discuss any private diplomatic conversations," Miller said. "But publicly, we encourage fair, transparent, and timely legal processes. We don't think anyone should object to that. We'll convey the same message privately," he added.

The Enforcement Directorate has detained Kejriwal in a case related to money laundering. The case is linked to an alleged corruption scandal involving the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22. The policy was later cancelled.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed strong objection to the comments made by the spokesperson of the US State Department regarding certain legal proceedings in India. The ministry emphasized that in diplomacy, it is expected that states should show respect for the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, particularly for fellow democracies, as it could otherwise create unhealthy precedents. The MEA further stated that India's legal system is founded on an independent judiciary, which is committed to providing objective and timely outcomes. The ministry also added that casting doubts on it is unwarranted.