Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal finds himself embroiled in a legal quagmire as his judicial custody is extended till April 23 in connection with the excise policy case. Kejriwal, also the AAP convenor, was arrested on March 21 and subsequently placed in Tihar jail after his Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand ended.
During a virtual court appearance, Kejriwal’s extension of judicial custody was confirmed, alongside co-accused K Kavitha. The 55-year-old leader’s arrest by the ED came after the high court’s refusal to grant him protection from coercive action by the central agency.
A plea filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest prompted the Supreme Court to seek a response from the ED, with the matter scheduled for further hearing in the week commencing April 29.
The Delhi High Court had earlier upheld Kejriwal’s arrest, citing his repeated refusal to respond to nine summonses and join the probe. Despite the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader’s petition, the court maintained the ED’s custody over him.
The case revolves around alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of Delhi’s excise policy for 2021-22, which was subsequently scrapped. Kejriwal’s arrest marks a historic moment as he becomes the first sitting chief minister to face such legal action.
His colleagues, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, are also detained in relation to the same case. However, AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh secured bail from the Supreme Court earlier this month.
As Kejriwal’s legal battle intensifies, the intricacies of the excise policy case and its implications for his political future remain under scrutiny.