Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Seeks More Legal Meetings from Jail

New Delhi [India], July 8: The Delhi High Court has asked jail authorities to respond to a plea from Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is seeking two additional legal meetings with his lawyers via video conferencing from Tihar Jail. Kejriwal is currently in judicial custody in the Delhi Excise policy case.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna has given the jail authorities five days to reply, and the matter is scheduled for arguments on July 15. Kejriwal’s application for additional legal meetings was previously rejected by the trial court.

Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, representing Kejriwal, argued that there is nothing wrong with seeking additional legal meetings. However, senior counsel Zoheb Hossain, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), also wanted to file a reply, which Gupta objected to, stating that the ED is not a party in this application.

The Rouse Avenue Court had earlier denied Kejriwal’s request for two additional meetings with his lawyers through video conferencing. Special judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the application, stating that there were no new grounds to take a different view from the earlier order dated April 10, 2024.

Kejriwal’s counsel argued that he is facing around 30 litigations across the country and needs additional meetings with his lawyers to ensure a fair trial. The counsel also mentioned that Kejriwal has been arrested in another case by the CBI and that co-accused Sanjay Singh was allowed additional legal meetings by an order dated February 22, 2024.