Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s custody has been extended until April 1 in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with excise policy case. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo, currently facing inquiry by the ED, faced a court hearing where his custody was extended by four days, despite the agency’s request for a seven-day extension.
The ED asserts that it has strong evidence suggesting the misuse of bribe money by AAP during the Goa elections. According to insider reports, Kejriwal, addressing the courtroom directly, accused the ED of attempting to suppress his party, denying any wrongdoing. He emphasized that no court has pronounced him guilty, claimed his arrest as being based on flimsy grounds.
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded to the custody of the probe agency until March 28 by a Delhi court. However, his hopes for immediate relief were dashed when the Delhi High Court declined to intervene in his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
The case stems from an initial prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate in November 2021, alleging that the excise policy was intentionally crafted with loopholes, enabling the surreptitious formation of cartels to favor AAP leaders. Furthermore, the agency has accused AAP leaders of receiving kickbacks from a group referred to as the “South Group.”
The genesis of the case traces back to a report submitted by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena in July 2022, which highlighted purported procedural irregularities in the development of the excise policy.
Eom/Kishan
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