Delhi Court sends Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12; BJP welcomes court's decision
Jun 29, 2024
New Delhi [India], June 29 : The Delhi Court sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Central Investigation Bureau's (CBI) judicial custody until July 12 in connection with the excise policy case after which Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the court decision, whereas Aam Aadmi Party called it a "conspiracy" of the BJP.
The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Saturday sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the excise policy case.
Reacting to the development, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that we heard CBI's arguments and they repeated the same imaginary stories which have no relation to the truth adding that such stories do not stand in court.
"Arvind Kejriwal was first kept in police custody and today he has been taken into judicial custody in a false case. The court's order is not out as of now," Singh said.
Delhi Environment Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Rai called it a "conspiracy" of the Bharatiya Janata Party government and said that AAP ministers and CM have been jailed in "fake cases."
"Our ministers and CM have been jailed in fake cases. This is a conspiracy of the BJP government. The facts have also come out. The Trial Court gave bail to the CM. The Trial Court said clearly that there was no proof against the CM. The ED went to the High Court without taking the order copy. The bail was stayed without a hearing... This is a campaign to destroy the Delhi government and the AAP... We hope to get optimistic results from the Court soon," Gopal Rai said.
Advocate Rishikesh Kumar said, "Arvind Kejriwal was produced before the court because his three-day CBI custody came to an end today. CBI did not seek further police custody, they sought a judicial remand which was opposed by us saying they have no grounds to seek a judicial remand... Now Arvind Kejriwal will be produced before the court on 12 July. We had moved an application that he be provided with his diabetes medicines, test kits, and home-cooked food, and the court has agreed to our demands... On Monday or Tuesday, we will move a bail application."
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a nationwide protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy case.
In Delhi, the AAP protested in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters, in which several party MPs, MLAs, councillors, and workers participated.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Virendraa Sachdeva welcomed the decision of a Delhi court to send Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody in connection with the excise policy case till June 12.
The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Saturday sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the excise policy case.
"The law is taking its course. If they have committed a crime, then they have to be ready to face the consequences. The investigation agencies have presented the evidence in the Court. They should welcome the Court's decision. When the second wave of Covid was going on, should the Delhi government have made the liquor policy or come to the rescue of the people?" he asked.
He further said that the municipal corporation should come to the people's rescue.
"Today also, the municipal corporation should come to the people's rescue. The drains have not been cleaned, there is corruption in it. They have nothing to do with the problems of Delhi. They have to understand that they are in jail at the Court's order," he said.
The Vacation Judge Sunena Sharma sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12, 2024.
Advocate DP Singh appeared for CBI while seeking direction to send Arvind Kejriwal into Judicial Custody and alleged that during the police custody remand, the accused Arvind Kejriwal been examined/ interrogated. However, he did not cooperate with the investigation and deliberately gave evasive replies contrary to the evidence on record.
On being confronted with the evidence, he did not give a proper and truthful explanation regarding the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5 per cent to 12 per cent under the new Excise Policy of Delhi 2021-22, without any study or justification, said CBI.
He also could not explain as to why during the peak of 2nd wave of Covid, the Cabinet approval for a revised Excise Policy was obtained through circulation in hurried manner within 01 day, when the accused persons of the South Group were camping in Delhi and holding meetings with his close associate Vijay Nair.
He evaded the questions regarding the meetings of his associate Vijay Nair with various stakeholders of the liquor business in Delhi and demanded illegal gratification from them for favorable provisions in the upcoming Excise Policy, CBI added.
He also evaded questions regarding the transfer and utilization of ill-gotten money to the tune of Rs 44.54 crores in the Goa Assembly Elections by his party during 2021-22, said CBI.
In the light of aforesaid facts and circumstances, the further custodial interrogation of the accused Arvind Kejriwal is not required at this stage, said CBI.
The Delhi High Court recently stayed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail order passed by the trial court, saying that the trial court should have at least recorded its satisfaction with the fulfillment of twin conditions of section 45 of Prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the impugned order.