Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal LIVE: Mr Kejriwal pointed out that “no court has proven me guilty”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Enforcement Directorate custody has been extended by another four days in the alleged liquor policy scam. Mr Kejriwal will now be in the probe agency’s custody till April 1. The agency, which investigates financial crimes, had sought seven days.
The agency claims it has evidence to prove that bribe money was used by the AAP in Goa elections. The Chief Minister, who addressed the courtroom directly, accused the ED of trying “to crush” his party. He also pointed out that “no court has proven me guilty” and slammed what he said were flimsy reasons to arrest a sitting Chief Minister.
Here are the HIGHLIGHTS on Arvind Kejriwal’s custody hearing:
Get NDTV UpdatesTurn on notifications to receive alerts as this story develops.
“Unwarranted, Unacceptable”: India On US Remarks On Arvind Kejriwal Arrest
“India has lodged its strong objection and protest with the senior official from the US Embassy with regard to the comments made by the US State Department. The recent remarks by the State Department are unwarranted. Any such external imputation on our electoral and legal processes is completely unacceptable. In India, legal processes are driven only by the Rule of Law. Anyone who has similar ethos, especially fellow democracies, should have no difficulty in appreciating this fact. India is proud of its independent and robust democratic institutions. We are committed to protect them from any form of undue external influences,” New Delhi said in a statement rebutting comments by the US on the AAP leader’s arrest.
The Arvind Kejriwal’s government was accused of corruption when it implemented a policy to liberalise the sale of liquor in 2021 and give up a lucrative government stake in the sector. The policy was withdrawn the following year, but the resulting probe into the alleged corrupt allocation of licences has since seen the jailing of two top Kejriwal allies.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not keeping well, he is being harassed, claims his wife Sunita Kejriwal.
The Probe Agency’s Argument In Court
The Enforcement Directorate said in its fresh remand plea that during Arvind Kejriwal’s custodial interrogation, his statements were recorded on five days and that he was “giving evasive replies”. It said the statements of three other persons have also been recorded during the remand.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday ripped into Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – in jail on corruption charges related to an alleged liquor policy scam – and demanded to know if a separate set of laws had to be framed for the Aam Aadmi Party leader and his colleagues. Mr Thakur also pointed out that three of Mr Kejriwal’s colleagues, including ex-Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, are also in jail on corruption and money laundering charges. Read here
Delhi High Court Dismisses Petition For Arvind Kejriwal’s Removal As Chief Minister
The Delhi High Court today dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought removal of Arvind Kejriwal from the post of Delhi Chief Minister following his arrest by Enforcement Directorate in the liquor policy case and said there is no scope of judicial interference in the matter. If there is a constitutional failure, President or Governor will act on it, the court said.
Arvind Kejriwal’s Custody Extended By 4 Days In Delhi Liquor Policy Case
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate for a further four days. Mr Kejriwal is currently in the lock-up of the ED’s Delhi office after his arrest on March 21 in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. He wkill now remain in probe agency’s custody till April 1.
ED: “Arvind Kejriwal has hired big lawyers for the hearing, not every person has this facility. If someone’s statement has been taken under pressure then it is a matter related to the trial. We have strong evidence that Arvind Kejriwal had asked for a bribe of Rs 100 crore.”
The court has reserved the order.
ED: “Those who named him later have revealed their reasons for doing so. It is in the papers. All these arguments have been presented before the Delhi High Court. Aam Aadmi Party took bribe and used it in Goa elections. We have documents that this money was used in the Goa elections through the hawala route.”
Arvind Kejriwal: “If there is a scam of Rs 100 crore then where has the money of the scam gone? Actually, the scam started after the ED investigation. We are okay with keeping us on remand for as many days the ED wants. The ED has two objectives. One is to destroy the AAP and create a smokescreen and run an extortion racket behind it through which they are collecting money.”
Arvind Kejriwal: “Sarath Reddy donated Rs 55 crore to BJP after coming out of jail. Money trail is proven. They just want to crush AAP and on the other hand they do extortion.”
ED lawyers object, saying Mr Kejriwal is blaming the investigating agency.
Kejriwal: “Sarath Reddy donated Rs 55 crore to BJP. I have evidence that this racket is going on. Money trail is established. After being arrested, he donated Rs 50 crore to BJP. Out of the seven statements, my name did not appear in six statements, but as soon as my name was mentioned in the seventh statement the witness was released. A Chief Minister is arrested on the basis of just four statements whereas the ED has thousands of pages proving my innocence.”
Arvind Kejriwal says he wants to thank the officers and employees of ED who have cooperated in the investigation so far. “The ED filed ECIR on August 22, 2022, I’ve been arrested but not convicted by any court. The ED has so far collected 31 thousand documents, I am mentioned in only four statements.”
Mr Kejriwal says Raghav Magunta has five statements and he said what he was asked to say. “The six statements in which he does not speak about me are not brought on record.”
Arvind Kejriwal tells the court: “The case has been going on for two years. The case was filed on August 17. No court has found me guilty. There are no charges against me nor has any case been filed against me. But I have been arrested. C Arvind, who was the secretary of Manish Sisodia, said that Mr Sisodia gave him some file in my presence. Many ministers come to my house and give documents. Is that enough to arrest a sitting chief minister?”
Arvind Kejriwal LIVE Updates: Enforcement Directorate Seeks 7-Day Custody Of Arvind Kejriwal
The Enforcement Directorate seeks seven more days of Arvind Kejriwal’s custody. Following his arrest on Thursday, he was remanded to the ED custody for seven days last Friday, which ends today.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju and Special Counsel Zoheb Hussain, appearing on behalf of the ED, while senior lawyer Ramesh Gupta is representing Arvind Kejriwal. The ED says digital data that has been extracted needs to be investigated. Mr Kejriwal is not answering the questions directly, adds Mr Raju. He has to face some more people now, according to the ASG.
While being taken to the court, Arvind Kejriwal says this is a “political conspiracy” and that the public will answer for it. The Chief Minister was asked about Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena saying the government will not be run from jail.