Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Sent to Judicial Custody Till April 15 in Excise Policy Scam Case
Desk Report, April 01, 2024: The Delhi Court has remanded Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15 in connection with the excise policy scam case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo before special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja on Monday.
During the hearing at the Rouse Avenue Court, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju clarified that the federal agency is not seeking any further custody of the Delhi chief minister. Raju stated, “We’re asking for judicial custody,” highlighting that the ED is not pressing for Kejriwal’s continued detention.
AAP ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj, and Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, were present in the courtroom during the proceedings.
Referring to the case of former Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji, ASG Raju argued, “Kindly look at the Senthil Balaji case where custody can be sought later than 15 days… Therefore, he shall, at this stage, be sent to judicial custody.” Raju further explained the grounds for seeking delayed custody, stating, “He is evasive and non-cooperative and is diverting the investigation.”
The ED informed the court that in his statement, Kejriwal claimed that “Vijay did not report to me but to Atishi.” The agency further alleged, “He doesn’t even know who is at his camp office… he was shown different WhatsApp chats… he has not answered the question,” and accused him of deliberately withholding the “password of his digital devices.”
Consequently, the federal agency sought 15 days of judicial custody for the Delhi chief minister, a request which was granted by the court.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor has requested permission to take three books – the Bhagwat Gita, Ramayan, and ‘How PM Decides’ by Nirja Chaudhary – to the prison.
The case has drawn significant attention as it involves the sitting Chief Minister of Delhi, adding another layer to the political dynamics in the capital city.
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