In a recent development from Delhi, a court has ordered Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to be held in judicial custody until April 15 concerning the investigation into a suspected liquor policy scam. The decision came after his arrest on March 21. The ruling was issued by Special CBI Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue Courts, following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) choice not to pursue additional custody at this time. The ED’s counsel remarked, “We are asking for judicial custody, with the provision to request further custody as per the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Senthil Balaji case.”
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was brought before the court as his custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) came to an end. Initially, on March 22, he was placed under ED custody for six days, which was subsequently extended by another four days. This action is part of a broader investigation in which Kejriwal had failed to respond to nine summons from the ED. Fellow Aam Aadmi Party members Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, also implicated in the case, are currently under judicial custody. Following his arrest, Kejriwal swiftly filed an urgent plea with the Supreme Court contesting the legality of his detention, which he later retracted.
In addition to contesting his arrest, Arvind Kejriwal has also approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the legitimacy of the summons issued by the central investigation agency. He has sought interim protection through an application, with a hearing scheduled for April 22. Previously, the Enforcement Directorate lodged two criminal complaints against Kejriwal at the Rouse Avenue Courts in the city, accusing him of failing to comply with their summons. Kejriwal has repeatedly avoided these summons, arguing thier illegality.
The Delhi High Court recently did not grant interim relief to Arvind Kejriwal, though it did issue a notice regarding his appeal challenging both his arrest and subsequent remand. The Enforcement Directorate has accused Kejriwal of being the central figure in the Delhi excise scam, alleging his direct involvement in the misuse of proceeds of crime amounting to over Rs. 100 crores.
According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the excise policy was executed as part of a scheme to grant certain private companies a profit margin of 12 percent in wholesale business. However, it is noted that such a provision was not explicitly stated in the minutes of the Group of Ministers (GoM) meetings.
The Enforcement Directorate has further alleged a conspiracy orchestrated by Vijay Nair and other associates, in collaboration with the South Group, aimed at providing exceptional profit margins to wholesalers. The agency contends that Nair was acting on behalf of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in this regard.
