New Delhi, Apr 15 : A Delhi court has extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until April 23 in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-abolished liquor policy. Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21, appeared virtually before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts for the hearing.
The court cited the simultaneous expiration of the co-accused’s (BRS leader K Kavitha) judicial custody on April 23 as the reason for extending Kejriwal’s custody.
Previously, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kejriwal had approached the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court decision that upheld his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and subsequent remand in the excise policy case.
On April 9, the High Court rejected Kejriwal’s plea for release and dismissed his claim of political vendetta amidst the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It noted that his failure to comply with nine ED summons over six months weakened any assertions of special privilege as Chief Minister, suggesting that his arrest was a natural consequence of non-cooperation.
In his appeal against the High Court ruling, Kejriwal argued that there is insufficient evidence in the possession of the Enforcement Directorate to infer guilt under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The appeal contended that his arrest was solely based on subsequent, contradictory, and significantly delayed statements of co-accused individuals who have since become approvers.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 as part of a money laundering investigation concerning alleged irregularities in the now-defunct Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
