High Court denies urgent listing of Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest
The Delhi High Court has denied an urgent listing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and custody by the Enforcement Directorate in the liquor policy-linked money laundering case.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal, who is currently in Enforcement Directorate custody, approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing into the matter by Saturday evening or Sunday.
The matter will now be listed for hearing after the court resumes proceedings on March 27 (Wednesday) following the Holi holiday.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief was arrested by the central probe agency on Thursday and was remanded to a six-day Enforcement Directorate custody on Friday by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court.
Kejriwal, in his plea to the High Court, argued that both the arrest and the remand order are illegal, and he is entitled to be released from custody immediately.
On Friday, the Delhi Chief withdrew his petition in the Supreme Court against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, as the party decided to contest the ED custody first.
The Enforcement Directorate, during the remand application hearing, had argued in court that Kejriwal was the “key conspirator and the kingpin” of the Delhi excise policy scam. The ED also claimed that Kejriwal was in touch with Manish Sisodia, then Deputy Chief Minister, and K Kavitha, a Telangana leader, who were also arrested in the case.
The agency also alleged that the Chief Minister was directly involved in formulating the policy, demanding kickbacks, and handling the proceeds of crime.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal has argued that there is absolutely no evidence linking him to the alleged scam.
The court observed that custodial interrogation was required to “unearth the remaining proceeds of crime” and to “confront him with data retrieved from digital devices and material seized during the investigation”. He was remanded in ED custody till March 28.
Meanwhile, the AAP asserted that the 55-year-old leader will continue as the Chief Minister and will run the government from jail if necessary.