Court extends ED’s remand of Kejriwal till April 1

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) was allowed four more days of custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by a Special Court after his March 21 latenight arrest in the excise money laundering case. Rouse Avenue court Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who did not agree to the ED’s plea of seven more days of custody, will hear the case on April 1.

In its remand application, the ED said Kejriwal’s statements were recorded on five days during the custodial interrogation, but he was “giving evasive replies”.

The agency informed Special Judge Baweja that he has declined to share passwords for his online accounts, stating that he would only do so if his lawyers consent.

BAIL APPLICATION

Kejriwal simultaneously moved to the Delhi High Court again to challenge his arrest by the ED which he said impinged on his fundamental rights. The Delhi High Court, however, declined to give immediate relief to him and instead posted the matter for April 3.

The High Court on an earlier occasion too had denied bail to the AAP leader, forcing him to move the trial court of Special Judge Baweja.

Meanwhile, Delhi High Court acting Chief Justice Manmohan dismissed a PIL seeking Kejriwal’s removal from the post of Delhi CM because the issue fell outside the scope of judicial interference.

During the hearing on the bail application, Kejriwal was given permission by the Special Court to present his case directly.

Kejriwal said that no part of the alleged ₹100 crore in bribes has been recovered so far. “I was arrested... but no court has proved me guilty. The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has filed 31,000 pages (of chargesheet) and the ED filed 25,000 pages. Even if you read them together... the question remains... why have I been arrested?” Delhi Chief

Minister asked the court. Kejriwal told the court that he is ready to be in custody and will fully cooperate in the investigation, his lawyer Ramesh Gupta said.

The Delhi CM used Delhi High Court Judge Sanjiv Khanna’s earlier observation that the money trail is still to be traced, to question the ED’s move to arrest him.

“The real liquor scam begins post the ED investigation. The motive of the ED is to crush the Aam Aadmi Party,” claimed Kejriwal.