Court extends Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s ED custody till April 1

A Delhi Court on Thursday further remanded Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till April 01 in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam. He was arrested on the night of March 21.

Special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order after Kejriwal was produced in court on the expiry of his six days of ED custody.

Delhi High Court on Wednesday had declined any interim relief to Kejriwal and only issued notice on his plea challenging the arrest and remand.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told the court that the sitting CM was giving “evasive replies” during interrogation and the agency needs to confront him with some individuals who have been summoned from Goa. ED thus sought seven more days of custody. “He doesn’t get exonerated if he is a CM. There is no different standards for a CM. Right to arrest a CM is no different from an ordinary man.”

Kejriwal addressed the Court in person and submitted he is not opposing remand. He claimed the entire case is a “political conspiracy” and there is no material against him.

The Delhi CM alleged that the central probe agency was collecting selective material and even the approver was forced to make a statement against him.

The central probe agency submitted that Kejriwal has refused to share the password of his mobile phone. But Kejriwal responded that ED cannot force him to unlock his electronic gadgets.

Sunita Kejriwal, who had come for her husband’s court hearing, told reporters, “He has not been keeping well. His sugar levels are fluctuating. He is being harassed a lot. This tyranny won’t last and people will give a reply.”

Kejriwal had skipped nine summons issued to him by ED. Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are also accused in the case and are presently in judicial custody.

Following his arrest, Kejriwal had promptly moved an urgent petition before the Supreme Court challenging his arrest. However, the same was withdrawn later.

Moreover, he has previously moved the Delhi High Court (division bench) challenging the summons issued to him by the central probe agency. He has also filed an application seeking interim protection. The matter is fixed for hearing on April 22.

Earlier, ED had filed two criminal complaints against Kejriwal in city’s Rouse Avenue Courts alleging non-compliance of the summons by him. Kejriwal has skipped the summons, claiming that they are illegal.

ED had alleged that Arvind Kejriwal is the “kingpin” of Delhi excise scam and is directly involved in the use of proceeds of crime accounting to over Rs. 100 crores.

The Central agency has also claimed that there was a conspiracy that was coordinated by Vijay Nair and other individuals along with South Group to give extraordinary profit margins to wholesalers.

Nair was acting on behalf of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, according to the agency.