Arvind Kejriwal Key Conspirator in Liquor Scam, ED Tells Court, Seeks 10-day Custody

Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal on Friday was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi excise policy case. Hours before, the CM chose to withdraw his plea before the top court against his arrest.

The AAP chief was produced before the court around 2 pm amid tight security on and around the court premises.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE

Calling him the ‘key conspirator’, the Directorate sought his 10-day custody from the court. Zoheb Hossain, the Special Counsel for ED told Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court that Kejriwal received several crores of rupees as kickbacks from the ‘South group’ for formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

SV Raju, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) representing the agency, told the court that he had requested Rs 100 crore from the accused members of the ‘South group’ for their participation in the Punjab elections.

According to the law officer, the money trail revealed that the Rs 45 crore “kickback” utilized in the Goa polls came through four hawala networks, adding that the Call Detail Records (CDR) supported the accused’s and witnesses’ allegations.

“We have given an application for 10 days’ remand,” ASG Raju told the court. He said the AAP is not an individual but a company, and every person responsible for the conduct of the company will be held responsible.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is representing Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal’s counsel said he would contest the remand proceedings before the trial court and then come back to the apex court with another petition.

Latest Updates 

• Before taking the AAP supremo to the court, he said ‘his life is dedicated to the nation whether he is inside jail or outside jail’.
• This was Kejriwal’s first reaction after being arrested by the ED on Thursday night. The Aam Aadmi Party has called his arrest a “political conspiracy” to stop him from campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.
• Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal argued before the Rouse Avenue Court that there is no direct evidence (against him). “Without there being any material in possession of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the basis of which Kejriwal can be believed to be guilty of an offence, he is being illegally and arbitrarily arrested by the ED,” Singhvi said.
• Senior advocate Singhvi argued before the top court that “80% of people” involved in the case have not take his (Arvind Kejriwal) name and “82% have not mentioned any dealings” with the Delhi CM.
• Singhvi while concluding his arguments before the Special Judge, requested that please do not look at the remand as a routine. It requires the application of significant judicial mind…there are larger issues of democracy involved, he added.

(with inputs from PTI)