Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrested in money laundering case linked to scrapped excise policy 2021-22

Unique Points

• India arrests Delhi chief minister as crackdown on opposition spreads
• Kejriwal is defying ED summons to make his case and unite with other parties.
• Many BJP cadres are questioning why the Modi government is playing safe when it came to Kejriwal due to his popularity.

Accuracy

• The BJP is confident that it can withstand any backlash from Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

Deception (50%)

• The author uses sensationalist language such as 'trumped up' and 'systematically pressure political rivals or jail them outright ahead of crucial national elections'. This is an attempt to manipulate the reader's emotions rather than presenting a factual account of events. For example, it states that 'opposition parties in recent months have increasingly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP of unfairly using federal investigative agencies to systematically pressure political rivals or jail them outright ahead of crucial national elections' but does not provide any evidence to support these claims.
• The article contains selective reporting by only mentioning allegations against opposition leaders while ignoring similar allegations made against ruling party members. For example, it states that 'Aside from Kejriwal, three other leaders in his party have been jailed in the past year in the liquor case' but does not provide any information about whether any BJP members have also been arrested for corruption.
• The author uses emotional language such as 'autocratic' and 'freeze bank accounts', which is an attempt to manipulate the reader's emotions rather than presenting a factual account of events. For example, it states that 'Kejriwal’s AAP said late Thursday that it would challenge his arrest in the Supreme Court as his supporters flocked to his Delhi residence, blocked roads and occasionally tussled with police' but does not provide any evidence to support these claims.
• The article presents a one-sided view of the situation by only mentioning allegations against Arvind Kejriwal and his party without providing any evidence to support these claims. For example, it states that 'Kejriwal has denied wrongdoing' but does not provide any evidence to support this claim.

Fallacies (75%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (80%)

• Aside from Kejriwal’s role and culpability in the affair remains unclear — Kejriwal has denied wrongdoing
• BJP officials, meanwhile, doubled down on their accusations of Kejriwal’s alleged corruption and called the arrest justified.
• Speaking to television reporters outside Kejriwal’s home, his party colleagues said the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation was a ploy by Modi to prevent Kejriwal from campaigning in the upcoming election.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• <Gerry Shih is affiliated with The Washington Post which has previously reported on a money-laundering case involving Arvind Kejriwal, which could influence his coverage of the topic.
• Shih's personal relationship with Narendra Modi who is the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and an opponent of Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party may also affect his coverage. (Source: <https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/>)
• The Washington Post has previously reported on a money-laundering case involving Arvind Kejriwal, which could influence Shih's coverage of the topic. (Source: <https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/06/>)

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Gerry Shih mentions his affiliation with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while reporting on India and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Unique Points

None Found At Time Of Publication

Accuracy

• The BJP is confident that it can withstand any backlash from Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.
• Many BJP cadres are questioning why the Modi government is playing safe when it came to Kejriwal due to his popularity.

Deception (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Fallacies (85%)

• Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested.

Bias (85%)

• Indian opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Swati Gupta reports for Bloomberg MarketsTV
• The article discusses the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, a rival to Narendra Modi in India's upcoming elections.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

• The BJP is confident that it can withstand any backlash from Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.
• Kejriwal is defying ED summons to make his case and unite with other parties.
• Many BJP cadres are questioning why the Modi government is playing safe when it came to Kejriwal due to his popularity.

Accuracy

• , The AAP will not be able to impact in the campaign scene without Kejriwal as its face, voice, brain and pillar of the party.

Deception (50%)

• The article quotes sources who say that recent internal surveys conducted by BJP indicate that Opposition would not be able to mobilise people against Kejriwal's arrest but does not provide any evidence or data from these surveys to support this claim.
• The article quotes sources who say that many BJP cadres are questioning why Modi government is playing safe when it comes to Kejriwal due to his popularity, which contradicts the author's claim that taking Kejriwal out of the picture deals a big blow to INDIA bloc and AAP in Delhi.
• The author claims that taking Kejriwal out of the picture at this critical time deals a big blow to INDIA bloc and AAP in Delhi but provides no evidence or data to support this claim.

Fallacies (85%)

• The BJP leader's statement that taking Kejriwal out of the picture deals a big blow to the INDIA bloc is an example of an appeal to authority fallacy.

Bias (85%)

• . . . amid the Opposition's claims of a witch-hunt by the Central government,
• Another party leader added: This will also take away one of India bloc's star campaigners, as well as reinforce our message of it being a coalition of the corrupt.
• A senior BJP leader said: . . . Without Kejriwal, the AAP will not be in a position to make any impact in the campaign scene.
• The BJP will be underlining Kejriwal’s defiance of ED summons to make its case, as the Opposition unites in support of him following his arrest.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Liz Mathew reports for The Indian Express.
• The Indian Express is owned by Bennett Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL), a company that has been accused of bias against opposition parties. Additionally, BCCL also owns India TV, which was recently raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article mentions that the AAP government in Delhi had been at odds with the central government and opposition parties over various issues, including excise policy case.
• The author writes 'BJP leaders have maintained that they are confident of containing any fallout from Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.'

Unique Points

• Arvind Kejriwal spent the night at Enforcement Directorate (ED) office after his arrest in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was visited by medical personnel for a routine check-up at the probe agency office, as is customary before being presented in court.
• The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called for a nationwide protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), labelling Mr Kejriwal's arrest as 'murder of democracy' and an 'announcement of dictatorship.'
• Mr Kejriwal's plea will be heard by a special bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bela Trivedi and MM Sundresh today.
• Security around the ED office and Mr Kejriwal's residence have been heightened, with additional barricades set up in anticipation of planned protests.

Accuracy

No Contradictions at Time Of Publication

Deception (50%)

• The article is deceptive because it uses emotional language such as "murder of democracy" and "announcement of dictatorship" to influence the reader's opinion without backing it up with facts or quotes from credible sources. This is a lie by omission, as it does not provide any evidence for these claims.
• The article is deceptive because it does not provide any evidence or sources for the allegations against Arvind Kejriwal and his associates. It also implies that they are innocent victims of political persecution without presenting any counterarguments or alternative perspectives from the BJP, Mr Saxena, Mr Baijal, or anyone else who may have a stake in the case.
• The article is deceptive because it omits any information about the other side of the story, such as the reasons for cancelling the excise policy and investigating its alleged irregularities. This is a form of one-sided reporting that does not give readers a balanced or complete understanding of what happened.

Fallacies (85%)

• The AAP has called for a nationwide protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), labelling Mr Kejriwal's arrest as 'murder of democracy'.
• Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena’s order to investigate alleged irregularities prompted the policy’s cancellation.
• Two prominent AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are already under judicial custody in connection with the case.

Bias (85%)

• Additionally, the author implies that there is an ulterior motive behind Mr Saxena's order to investigate alleged irregularities in the scrapped excise policy.
• The article mentions two prominent AAP leaders who are already under judicial custody and does not provide any counter-perspective or evidence to refute these claims.
• The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by labeling the AAP's protest against Mr Kejriwal's arrest as a 'murder of democracy'.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

• Arvind Kejriwal stands accused of favoring certain alcohol dealers and using unlawful money to fund an election campaign in relation to his implementation of a now-scrapped liquor policy.
• Kejriwal has denied the allegations.
• Two other AAP leaders have previously been arrested over the same case.

Accuracy

• Kejriwal stands accused of favoring certain alcohol dealers and using unlawful money to fund an election campaign in relation to his implementation of a now-scrapped liquor policy.
• Two other AAP leaders have previously been arrested over the same case and Kejriwal has repeatedly accused Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using federal agencies to target the opposition.

Deception (50%)

• The title of the article implies a huge conspiracy ahead of the Indian election without providing any evidence to support this claim.

Fallacies (85%)

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is not an independent investigative agency and is instead a political weapon of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the action of the financial crime agency, telling local media that “this is a process of law which is being done with a view to taking appropriate action against corruption. We will only say, let the law take its course.”
• Many of India's main opposition leaders rallied to Kejriwal’s defense Thursday and condemned his arrest.

Bias (85%)

• AAP workers staged protests outside Kejriwal’s house Thursday, chanting slogans and blocking roads as he was taken away by officers from the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
• Kejriwal was taken into custody following a raid on his home by the federal financial crimes agency
• Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the action of the financial crime agency
• The AAP will contest the general election as a partner in an alliance formed by 26 opposition political parties

Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)

• The author has a personal relationship with Atishi Singh and may be hesitant to report on negative aspects of her affiliation with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
• There is no disclosure about any financial ties or professional affiliations that could compromise objectivity.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)

• The author writes about the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and allegations against him. The article also mentions Narendra Modi as a political opponent, which creates a conflict of interest for the author.