Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Sent to Jail Until July 12 in Excise Policy Case
New Delhi, June 29: The Delhi Court has sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody until July 12 in connection with the excise policy case. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the decision, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called it a ‘conspiracy’ by the BJP.
Reactions from AAP Leaders
AAP leader Sanjay Singh criticized the CBI’s arguments, calling them ‘imaginary stories’ with no relation to the truth. He stated that Kejriwal was first kept in police custody and is now in judicial custody in a false case.
Delhi Environment Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai also called it a ‘conspiracy’ by the BJP government, claiming that AAP ministers and the CM have been jailed in ‘fake cases.’ He expressed hope for optimistic results from the court soon.
Legal Proceedings
Advocate Rishikesh Kumar mentioned that Kejriwal was produced before the court as his three-day CBI custody ended. The CBI did not seek further police custody but requested a judicial remand, which was opposed by Kejriwal’s legal team. The court agreed to provide Kejriwal with his diabetes medicines, test kits, and home-cooked food.
Nationwide Protests
The AAP held nationwide protests against Kejriwal’s arrest. In Delhi, protests took place in front of the BJP headquarters, involving several party MPs, MLAs, councillors, and workers.
BJP’s Response
Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva welcomed the court’s decision, stating that the law is taking its course. He questioned the Delhi government’s priorities during the second wave of COVID-19, criticizing the focus on the liquor policy instead of public welfare.
CBI’s Allegations
The CBI alleged that Kejriwal did not cooperate with the investigation and gave evasive replies. They questioned the profit margin increase for wholesalers under the new Excise Policy of Delhi 2021-22 and the hurried approval of the policy during the peak of the second wave of COVID-19. The CBI also raised concerns about the transfer and utilization of Rs 44.54 crores in the Goa Assembly Elections by AAP.
High Court’s Decision
The Delhi High Court recently stayed Kejriwal’s bail order, stating that the trial court should have recorded its satisfaction with the conditions of section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the order.
