Arvind Kejriwal Withdraws Petition Against Arrest From Supreme Court

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Directorate before his dramatic arrest late last evening, in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam - has withdrawn a Supreme Court petition against his arrest, sources told NDTV Friday morning.

Mr Kejriwal, sources said, will now approach a lower court, in accordance with protocol.

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.

Meanwhile, sources within Mr Kejriwal's legal team have said there is no reason why the AAP boss - whose arrest weeks before a general election has sparked furious nationwide protests - cannot continue as Delhi Chief Minister. Sources said Mr Kejriwal had not been convicted, only accused.

The protests that have erupted against Mr Kejriwal's arrest includes supportive statements by nearly all opposition parties, particularly those that are part of the INDIA bloc, of which the AAP is a member. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet Mr Kejriwal's family later today.

The AAP has claimed the Chief Minister's family is, effectively, under house arrest.