Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Remanded 6-Day ED Custody In Liquor Policy Case

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been placed under a six-day Enforcement Directorate custody by the Rouse Avenue Court in connection with a money laundering case linked to the now-defunct liquor policy.

The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be detained by the probe agency until March 28, as decided by the court. He is scheduled to appear before the court at 2 pm on March 28.

Kejriwal was brought before the trial court shortly after withdrawing his plea against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case, on Thursday evening.

During the remand hearing, the federal probe agency alleged that Kejriwal received substantial kickbacks from the ‘South group’ for formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

According to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the agency, Kejriwal purportedly demanded Rs 100 crore from certain accused affiliated with the ‘South group’ to fund the AAP’s campaign in the Goa elections.

Raju further claimed that the money trail revealed Rs 45 crore used in the Goa elections originated from four hawala routes.

In response, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Arvind Kejriwal, opposed the remand plea, arguing that the probe agency must demonstrate the necessity of the Chief Minister’s arrest.

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Singhvi emphasized the distinction between the power of arrest and the actual need for it.

Singhvi also highlighted the unprecedented nature of the arrest, noting that it marks the first time in 75 years of independence that a sitting Chief Minister has been detained, and the first instance of four leaders from his party facing arrest. He likened the situation to determining the outcome before the first vote is cast.

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