Delhi Court Extends Arvind Kejriwal's Judicial Custody Till May 20
|A Delhi Court today extended remanded Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till May 20 in the money laundering case related to the Delhi Excise Policy scam.
Kejriwal was produced through video conferencing before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at Rouse Avenue Court today on the expiration of his judicial custody.
It is to be noted that the Apex Court, on April 15, had issued notice in Kejriwal's plea challenging a Delhi High Court's Judgment upholding his arrest in a money laundering case stemming from the Delhi excise policy scam. The Apex Court was considering Kejriwal's Interim Bail today in view of the General Elections 2024. During the course hearing, the Bench clarified that if they release Kejriwal on Bail, they do not want him to perform official duties. The main matter challenging arrest is scheduled tentatively for May 9.
Pertinently, on March 28, the CM had made submissions in Hindi after taking permission from the Court despite his Lawyers being present. Kejriwal said a smokescreen of the AAP being corrupt has been created before the nation, and he had added that he is ready to face the ED probe.
On March 27, the Delhi High Court had scheduled Kejriwal's plea against arrest for a final hearing on April 3. The Court did not grant any interim relief to the Chief Minister of Delhi. The High Court had directed the ED to file its reply in the interim Application as well as the main Writ Petition by April 2. It had also clarified that no adjournment shall be granted on the date of final hearing, i.e. April 3.
The AAP had first moved the Apex Court on Thursday (March 21) late in the evening after the ED arrested Kejriwal. The agency took him to its headquarters in Central Delhi. The Delhi CM's legal team attempted to get a late night hearing from the Supreme Court. However, no special Supreme Court Bench was set up on Thursday night to hear the CM's plea challenging his Arrest. The Arrest of the first sitting Chief Minister came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the agency.
Cause Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. Arvind Kejriwal