A Delhi court remanded Aam Aadmi Party Convenor, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to three days in CBI custody following his arrest in connection with an alleged excise scam.Â
The order was issued by Special Judge Amitabh Rawat after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought and obtained the court’s permission to arrest Kejriwal.
According to India Today, during his custody, Kejriwal will be allowed to keep a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, have home-cooked meals, and take his prescribed medications. However, a request by the AAP national convener to wear a belt, due to the embarrassment of holding up his pants en route to Tihar Jail, was denied.
The judge also granted Kejriwal the opportunity to meet with his wife and lawyers for one hour each day during his time in custody. The CBI’s custodial interrogation of Kejriwal can last up to 15 days, after which he will return to judicial custody if he does not secure bail in both the cases being investigated by the CBI and ED.
In its application for custody, the CBI argued that Kejriwal’s interrogation was essential to uncover the larger conspiracy involved in the case. The agency stated that Kejriwal needed to be confronted with other accused individuals and pieces of evidence.
Kejriwal maintained his innocence in court, rejecting claims that he had implicated former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. “It is being reported in the media, via CBI sources, that I have blamed Sisodia. I have not made any such statements. Sisodia is innocent, the AAP is innocent, and I am innocent. The entire narrative is being manipulated to defame us,” he asserted.
Kejriwal also accused the CBI of sensationalizing the issue, predicting that it would dominate media headlines. “Their goal is to create a media frenzy,” he added.
Kejriwal’s lawyer opposed the CBI’s request for custody, describing the agency’s application as “completely vague” and accusing the CBI of abusing its power.
