AAP Leader Durgesh Pathak Granted Bail, CM Kejriwal’s Custody Extended

New Delhi, India – On Wednesday, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Durgesh Pathak after he furnished a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh. Other accused individuals also provided their bail bonds.

Durgesh Pathak and the other accused appeared in court following summons issued by the Rouse Avenue Court. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other accused in custody were produced via video conferencing from Tihar Jail, while Vinod Chauhan appeared physically. Chauhan is currently in custody for a money laundering case. The court extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody until September 25.

The Rouse Avenue Court issued summons and production warrants for the accused after reviewing a supplementary charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI stated it would provide copies of the supplementary charge sheet to the counsels for the accused, along with a list of unreleased documents.

The CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Arvind Kejriwal, Durgesh Pathak, Amit Arora, Sharath Chandra Reddy, Ashish Mathur, and Vinod Chauhan. The court took cognizance of this charge sheet on September 3. The CBI alleges that money received from a group in the South was used for AAP’s election campaign in Goa, with Kejriwal allegedly promising Rs 90 lakhs to each candidate in 40 constituencies.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) D.P. Singh, along with Manu Mishra, represented the CBI. Singh stated that this is the fourth and final charge sheet and no further investigation is expected. He mentioned that Kejriwal was in contact with the South group through Vijay Nair, who was appointed as a media manager by Kejriwal. The money received was allegedly used for AAP’s Goa election campaign, and Kejriwal promised Rs 90 lakhs to each candidate in 40 constituencies. Raghav Magunta reportedly met Kejriwal.

Singh further stated that Durgesh Pathak was in charge of the Goa election, and all the money spent was under his instructions. Pathak is an MLA from Delhi. Singh also mentioned witnesses who claimed that a businesswoman from Punjab was threatened. He referenced the Mahadev liquor case and witnesses Sunny Marwah, Punit Diwan, and Jasdeep Kaur Chaddha. It is alleged that Amit Arora threatened Punit Diwan and another witness, claiming to be the brother of Dinesh Arora, an approver in the case.

In May, a witness received a letter demanding the closure of the liquor business. Jagpreet Kaur was reportedly asked to donate Rs 51 crore to the CM’s relief fund. Singh also mentioned accused Sharath Chandra Reddy, who allegedly arranged Rs 14 crores and acquired five liquor vends in Delhi. Singh referred to WhatsApp chats involving Vinod Chauhan, Amit Arora, Jagdeep Kaur Chaddha, Punit Diwan, and Anant S. Aiyer, all related to the Mahadev liquor case.

Singh also cited statements from AAP’s Goa candidates, who claimed that Kejriwal told them not to worry about the funds required for the election. Singh further stated that the money was transferred under Pathak’s directions. CM Arvind Kejriwal appeared via video conferencing and was permitted to leave the session for lunch due to low blood sugar. The CBI’s SPP further submitted that another accused, Vinod Chauhan, was dealing with the PA of K Kavitha.