New Delhi, Dozens of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members were detained by police in New Delhi during a protest against the arrest of their leader, Arvind Kejriwal, amid heightened political tension ahead of India’s general elections.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the arrest, conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on graft allegations related to Delhi’s liquor policy, has sparked outrage among AAP supporters. On Thursday, Kejriwal, who is the Chief Minister of Delhi, was taken into custody, leading to a public outcry and mobilization of AAP members.

The detained protesters, including Delhi government ministers, were en route to the city court for Kejriwal’s expected appearance when police intervened, loading them into buses amidst their chants for justice.

In response to the arrest, Kejriwal’s legal team has approached the Supreme Court of India, seeking redressal, with a hearing scheduled for Friday.

AAP’s predicament is seen within the broader context of the ‘INDIA’ bloc’s stance, which argues that the investigations into graft allegations against opposition leaders are part of a concerted effort by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led federal government to undermine political adversaries through the ED.