NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court on Thursday extended the custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by another four days until April 1 in the money laundering case related to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise policy.
The ED had sought a 7-day custody of the chief minister. however, the Court only granted four days custody. Kejriwal will be produced in court on April 1 at 11:30 am.
During the hearing, the probe agency, while seeking Kejriwal's further custody, stated that the chief minister was giving evasive replies during his interrogation period and needed to confront more suspected individuals who had been recently summoned by the agency.
Heated arguments ensued at the Rouse Avenue Court between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who addressed the Court himself, and the lawyers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Kejriwal raised concerns, stating, "I am named by four witnesses in the excise policy case. Are four statements enough to arrest a sitting CM.Where is that Rs 100 Crore liquor scam money which ED is always claiming. The whole case began only after ED started investigating it," alleging that the liquor policy case is a political conspiracy aimed at crushing the Aam Aadmi Party.
According to the ED, Kejriwal's involvement in the formulation of the excise policy was evident from the statement of C Arvind, the then Secretary of former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. C Arvind informed the ED that he was handed over the draft Group of Ministers report by Sisodia at Kejriwal's residence, where former Minister Satyendra Jain was also present.
Responding to this allegation, Kejriwal mentioned that several ministers used to visit his residence and exchange documents. "Is this statement sufficient to arrest a sitting CM?," Kejriwal questioned in court.
Regarding Raghav Magunta's statement to the ED, the chief minister told the Court that Magunta's father gave six statements to ED, none of which implicated Kejriwal. "I just want to know whether these 4 statements are enough to arrest a sitting CM," Kejriwal asserted.
Alleging a political conspiracy behind his arrest, the AAP supremo argued that individuals are being coerced into becoming 'approvers' in the case and are being forced to alter their statements.
Despite not opposing the ED's demand for further custody, Kejriwal pointed out that approver Sarath Chandra Reddy donated 55 Crores to the BJP just after his arrest. "I have the evidence. Money trail is established. He donated 50 crores to BJP after being arrested," Kejriwal said. The Court noted his point and assured him that it would also be investigated.
On the other hand, in its remand application, the ED once again reiterated that AAP has committed the offence of money laundering through Arvind Kejriwal.
The ED claimed that during Kejirwal's remand period, the statement of one of the candidates of AAP in the Goa elections in 2022 was recorded, who revealed that he did not have any money, and his election expenditure (including all expenses for rallies/events/public hoardings) was covered by the AAP Office in Delhi only through their associates.
