After being detained on March 21 in connection with a money-laundering case involving the Delhi excise policy, Arvind Kejriwal was placed under ED detention till April 1.
As his detention expires on April 1, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was detained in a money-laundering case related to the now-canceled Delhi excise policy, is expected to appear before the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi at 11 a.m. on Monday.
Arvind Kejriwal was detained by the ED on March 21 in relation to the matter, and he was remanded to their custody until April 1.
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In addition, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party has petitioned the Delhi High Court to overturn his apprehension, claiming that the investigative agency violated his fundamental rights. Serving the ED with a notice, the court is asking for a response by April 2. On April 3, the hearing is scheduled to resume.
The hearing takes place one day after prominent members of the INDIA bloc assembled at the ‘Loktantra Bachao’ (Save Democracy) rally in the nation’s capital on Sunday. This was the opposition’s first public display of strength since the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. They denounced the detention of Arvind Kejriwal and former chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, and strongly urged the alliance partners to come together in support of interest of the country.
Top updates on Arvind Kejriwal’s hearing in Delhi court
- On March 28, the Rouse Avenue Court extended the Enforcement Directorate custody of Arvind Kejriwal till April 1, saying the agency provided “sufficient reasons”, such as the need for him to be confronted with material collected and statements recorded, to permit his further custodial interrogation.
- The ED said Arvind Kejriwal’s statements were recorded over five days but he was “evasive” in his response.
- In a heated exchange during the hearing, Arvind Kejriwal, who himself addressed the court, said there were only four statements, including C Arvind, where he claimed that “he gave some documentation to Manish Sisodia in my presence”.
- “Several bureaucrats and MLAs came regularly to my home. Are these four statements made by different people sufficient to arrest a sitting Chief Minister?” Arvind Kejriwal said.
- The court noted the ED’s submissions that the chief minister also needed to be confronted with the data extracted from digital devices along with some other details.
- During the hearing, Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Gopal Rai remained present in the courtroom. Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, and two children also attended the court proceedings.
- Appearing for the ED, additional solicitor general SV Raju sought time to file a detailed reply in the matter and alleged that “they deliberately didn’t serve us a copy so that we were not prepared”.
- Sunita Kejriwal on Thursday claimed Arvind Kejriwal was not keeping well and is being “harassed a lot”. Sunita Kejriwal said, “He has not been keeping well. His sugar levels are fluctuating. He is being harassed a lot. This tyranny won’t last and people will give a reply.”
- Meanwhile, the Delhi high court on March 28 rejected a PIL seeking the removal of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal from the post of Delhi chief minister following his arrest in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
- US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said Washington was following Kejriwal’s case. Indian officials objected to those comments and summoned a senior official from the US embassy in New Delhi. External affairs ministry spokesperson said the remarks from the State Department were unwarranted.
Inputs From Hindustan Times!
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