GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st April. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be in jail for the next two weeks in connection with the liquor policy case after his Enforcement Directorate custody ends today. The probe agency did not request further custody of the AAP leader, leading to a local court sending him to jail until April 15.
The court has permitted him to meet his wife Sunita Kejriwal and ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj before being transferred to Tihar Jail.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in the alleged liquor policy scam after missing nine central agency summons. He has been operating his government from the ED lock-up since then.
During the hearing at Delhis Rouse Avenue court this morning, the ED stated that Kejriwal was uncooperative and provided evasive answers. He did not disclose the passwords of his digital devices, according to the ED.
The central agency, investigating money laundering charges in the alleged liquor policy scam, mentioned that they might require his custody again in the future.
The agency accused Kejriwal of providing false evidence against other AAP members and dismissing statements from his own party leaders as confused. The ED also mentioned that Vijay Nair, AAP communications in-charge turned approver, reported to Atishi and Mr. Bhardwaj, not Kejriwal.
Kejriwal’s lawyer has requested specific medicines and a special diet for him in jail due to his illness. Additionally, a request has been made for a copy of Ramayan, Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, and How Prime Ministers Decide (by Neerja Chowdhury) for the Chief Minister in jail.
Kejriwal has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against his arrest, claiming his fundamental rights were violated by the probe agency. The court has asked the ED to respond by April 2, with the hearing scheduled to continue on April 3.
Kejriwal is the third AAP leader, following his former deputy Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, to be arrested in the liquor policy case. He has labeled his arrest as a political conspiracy.
During his previous hearing, Kejriwal addressed the courtroom, emphasizing that no court had found him guilty. He questioned the reason for his arrest despite the CBI filing 31,000 pages of chargesheets and the ED filing 25,000 pages. He questioned why he was being arrested.
The excise policy was introduced to reform the liquor business in Delhi but was revoked after Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered an investigation into alleged irregularities. The ED suspects that the policy generated high profits, with bribe money allegedly funding AAP’s election campaigns.
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