Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to judicial custody till April 15 by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Monday. This came as his custody with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) ended.
Kejriwal was produced before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja in a jam-packed courtroom with high security. The Delhi CM told reporters that “what the PM is doing is not good for the country.” AAP ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal were present in court.
The ED had moved an application in Rouse Avenue court seeking direction to send Kejriwal to judicial custody. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who appeared for the ED, informed the court that further custodial interrogation, at the moment not required.
The federal probe agency had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with the case. He was sent to the ED custody till March 28, which was later extended by four days till April 1.
In its remand application, the probe agency has accused the AAP leader of “being involved in the entire conspiracy of Delhi liquor scam, in drafting and implementation of the policy, for favouring and benefiting the quid pro receiving kickbacks and eventually using part of proceeds of crime generated out of the scheduled offence in the election campaign for Goa Assembly elections”.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit its note to the special judge on the issue of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal passing orders while in custody in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora said the special judge, dealing with the money laundering case in which Kejriwal has been arrested, is directed to pass an order, if required, in accordance with the law.
The court disposed of the public interest litigation which sought directions to prevent Kejriwal from issuing orders in his capacity as the chief minister while in the ED’s custody. During the hearing, the ED’s counsel said the agency was seized of the issue raised in the petition.
