Taking exception to certain remarks by Germany regarding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal’s arrest in the liquor policy case, New Delhi on Saturday termed them as “interfering in our judicial process” and summoned Deputy Head of Mission of the Germany embassy here to lodge its protest.
German deputy head of mission George Enzweiler was called by Ministry of External Affairs(MEA)here to register India’s strong protest, it was learnt.
A MEA statement said “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 democrary 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.”
The complaint comes hours after the German Foreign Ministry said they expected Kejriwal to get a fair and impartial trial as India is a democratic nation.
“We have taken note, India is a democratic country. We assume and expect that the standards relating to independence of Judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case. Like anyone facing accusations, Mr Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial, this includes he can make use of all available legal avenues without restrictions. The presumption of innocence is a central element of the rule of law and must apply to him,” the spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry said earlier.
Kejriwal was on Thursday night arrested by the Enforcement Directorate(ED)in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
The arrest, the first of a serving chief minister, came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the central probe agency.
The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.
