Not Expect Positive Response, Kejriwal Withdraws Petition From Top Court

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal - who skipped nine summons by the Enforcement Directorate before his dramatic arrest late last evening, in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam - has withdrawn a Supreme Court petition against his arrest, sources told Friday morning.

Mr Kejriwal, sources said, will now approach a trial court, in accordance with protocol. "We are withdrawing the petition here (from the Supreme Court) as it is clashing with the remand. We will argue the remand and come back here. I will give a letter regarding withdrawal," senior adovcate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the top court.

The Aam Aadmi Party chief's move comes hours after Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha - arrested last week in the same case - saw her petition denied by the top court. In fact, the same bench that heard Ms Kavitha's case, had been assigned to hear the plea by Arvind Kejriwal.

Ms Kavitha was told to approach the trial court for relief, including bail. A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice MM Sundresh, and Justice Bela Trivedi refused to take up the petition. The court said it could not allow individuals to approach it directly - without going through the lower courts - simply because they were persons of influence, such as a senior political leader or a Chief Minister.

Given the court's reaction to Ms Kavitha's petition, Mr Kejriwal's legal team said it had withdrawn its plea as it did not expect a positive response. Sources said the team believed the plea would be pointless since Mr Kejriwal has already been arrested, and the court, in the BRS leader's case, had remarked "... just because you have the means (power and/or money) we can't entertain you".