Arvind Kejriwal Highlights: The case will be now be heard on April 3.
New Delhi:
The Delhi High court offered no relief to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s challenge to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged liquor policy scam case today. The court has asked the probe agency to file response to Arvind Kejriwal’s petition by April 2. The matter will now be heard on April 3.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Arvind Kejriwal, today questioned the agency’s “delaying tactics” and claimed there was no need for the probe agency to arrest the Delhi Chief Minister without questioning him first. The AAP chief also claimed that he will be released after the elections are over on June 2 alleging a political conspiracy behind his arrest.
“I asked to them to pose questions. I proposed to appear through video conferencing. Now they are arresting me and saying that I could have tampered with the evidence. If so, couldn’t I have done it earlier? In fact, there was no need for arrest,” he said.
In a press statement, Mr Kejriwal’s wife Sunita questioned where the money from the “so-called” liquor policy scam. “The ED has conducted over 250 raids in the so-called liquor policy scam. No money was found in the multiple raids. They raided Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Satyendar Jain and us. Where is the money from this so-called scam? My husband will reveal the truth about it in Delhi in the court tomorrow,” she said.
Here are the highlights on Arvind Kejriwal’s petition in court:
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Arvind Kejriwal will spend at least another night in jail after the Delhi High Court refused a petition Wednesday, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged liquor policy scam.
The court has issued a notice asking the ED to respond to Mr Kejriwal’s petition, and given the probe agency time till April 2 to do so. The next hearing in this case is on April 3.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has requested lawyers to refrain from any protest against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest until he is declared innocent. This comes after AAP’s legal cell had called for a protest by lawyers against Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
The statement issued by BCI President Manan Kumar Mishra said, “Let us uphold the integrity and dignity of our noble profession, refraining from any movement until a competent court unequivocally establishes Arvind Kejriwal’s innocence or declares his arrest unjust or unlawful.”
Clad in yellow T-shirts and sporting “Kejriwal” masks, AAP MLAs arrived at the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday to mark their protest against the party supremo’s arrest by the ED in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case.
आज दिल्ली विधान सभा में, तानाशाही के ख़िलाफ़, लोकतंत्र को बचाने की इस जंग में, अब @AamAadmiParty का हर विधायक @ArvindKejriwal है। pic.twitter.com/C1yubpSAAl
– Atishi (@AtishiAAP) March 27, 2024
BREAKING: Court To Give Order On Arvind Kejriwal’s Bail Petition At 4 pm
After arguments by both sides, the Delhi High Court will give its order on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail petition at 4 pm today.
“We wrote emails to them asking for a copy on 25 and 26 March. They deliberately did not supply the petition to us,” said Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Abhishek Manu Singhvi Concludes Arguments After Almost 2 Hours
Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi concludes arguments after almost 2 hours.
The alleged Rs 45 crore transaction in question that was the reason behind the arrest has been considered unreliable by the Supreme Court in Manish Sisodia’s case. The accused who become approvers in such cases have been deemed as Trojan horse by the court,” Abhishek Singhvi said appearing for Arvind Kejriwal.
“Even one day incarceration is an issue of fundamental right. There is a strange situation of a sitting CM arrested on a summons issued in October without any statement under Section 50 and non-existent inquiry. The object of the arrest is very different. It is to create a non-level playing field,” Abhishek Singhvi said appearing for Arvind Kejriwal.
“There was no statement against me. ED took desired statement to arrest only one person. I think I will be out on June 2 (once the elections are over),” Abhishek Singhvi said appearing for Arvind Kejriwal.
Arvind Kejriwal’s Petition: ” There Was No Need Arrest”: Arvind Kejriwal’s Lawyer To Court
“I asked to them to pose questions. I proposed to appear through video conferencing. Now they are arresting me and saying that I could have tampered with the evidence. If so, couldn’t I have done it earlier? In fact, there was no need for arrest,” Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Arvind Kejriwal.
“Arvind ji is a true patriot, fearless and courageous person. Wishing him long life, health and success. He has said, I am in jail, but my spirit is among you all. If you close your eyes, you will feel me around you. Jai Hind,” she said.
“A sitting CM has been arrested to influence the elections. Arrests should only be made when it is really needed. Were the requirements of PMLA section 19 (arrest) complied with or was the arrest made without it,” Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi says the Section 50 of PMLA was not complied with and the proceeds of the crime are not being paid attention to while the chief minister was arrested without recording a statement.
According to sources, the CBI will seek Arvind Kejriwal’s custody after ED’s custody end tomorrow. The ED will produce Kejriwal in the court tomorrow after the custody ends and seek further time.
“The ED has conducted over 250 raids in the so-called liquor policy scam. No money was found in the multiple raids. They raided Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Satyendar Jain and us. Where is the money from this so-called scam? My husband will reveal the truth about it in Delhi in the court tomorrow,” she said.
So called शराब घोटाले का पैसा कहाँ है, इसका ख़ुलासा कल कोर्ट में करेंगे CM @ArvindKejriwal l Smt. @KejriwalSunita Addressing an Important Press Conference l LIVE https://t.co/KZKMnbOuU0
– AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 27, 2024
Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer asks for the Delhi Chief Minister to be released today on interim bail. “Both arrest and remand are wrong,” he said.
Judge says he needs to hear the other side too but assure Mr Kejriwal’s lawyer that the question of release will be taken up today.
Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: Hearing In Arvind Kejriwal’s Court Petition Resumes
Jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal will issue a press statement at 12pm today. On Tuesday, Sunita Kejriwal met with the Delhi Chief Minister at the ED office on March 21. In an earlier press conference, Ms Kejriwal read out a statement by the chief minister after he was arrested in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam case.
#WATCH | Delhi Ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi
along with AAP MLAs protest at the Delhi Assembly against the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate pic.twitter.com/uxBKlGiDnu– ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2024
The Enforcement Directorate urged the Delhi High Court to grant it time to file reply to a petition by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest in the alleged liquor policy scam. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju said the “bulky” petition was served upon them only on Tuesday, and three weeks’ time should be given to bring their stand on record. For interim relief as well, appropriate time should be given to respond, he said.