The Indian government has strongly protested statements made by a US State Department spokesperson regarding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's recent arrest in connection with suspected liquor policy scam.

The External Affairs Ministry summoned Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, for a 40-minute meeting at its Delhi office on Wednesday afternoon, reports NDTV.

India's Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal arrested in liquor bribery case

The MEA issued a brief statement immediately afterwards, warning of "unhealthy precedents" and "unwarranted aspersions."

"States are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents," said the ministry statement.

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"India's legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted," it said.

On Tuesday, the US State Department said it is watching news of Kejriwal's arrest and urged New Delhi to guarantee "a fair and timely legal process" for the incarcerated Aam Aadmi Party chief, said the report.

The US State Department's remarks come only days after Germany's Foreign Office stated that Kejriwal, like any other Indian citizen facing allegations, is entitled to a fair and impartial trial.

The Indian government responded sharply to the remarks, summoning the German ambassador and labelling the Foreign Office spokesperson's remark as "blatant interference in internal affairs."

"We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary," the External Affairs Ministry said, "Biased assumptions are most unwarranted."

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Arvind Kejriwal last week in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam, which has engulfed his AAP and sparked violent demonstrations from the opposition ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.