International Desk, Bangladesh Global: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Monday sent to 15-day judicial custody in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court delivered the verdict following the end of Kejriwal's custody with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today.
Earlier in the day, when Arvind Kejriwal was being produced at the lower court, he took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that whatever the latter is doing is "not good for the nation". During today's hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, said that the agency is not asking for further remand in light of the Supreme Court's recent judgment in Senthil Balaji's case.
SV Raju argued that Kejriwal's conduct in the lock-up was "totally non-cooperative" and he was providing authorities with "evasive replies". He also claimed that the Delhi Chief Minister was "misleading investigation" into the liquor case.
"In future we may require custody. That's the only purpose [of the statement]," SV Raju told the court.
Arvind Kejriwal's lawyers have also moved an application to allow the Delhi Chief Minister to read three books - Bhagavad Geeta, Ramayan and How Prime Ministers Decide by journalist Neerja Chaudhary.
The probe agency, however, sought a seven-day extension of Kejriwal's custody citing the need to further interrogate the AAP chief in the money laundering case.
But on March 28, the magisterial court extended Kejriwal's ED custody for only four days until April 1 after the latter said the motive of the ED was to crush AAP as he argued his own case in a rare move.
While arguing his case earlier that day, the Chief Minister asserted that the ED's only mission was to "trap" him in the liquor policy case.
"I am not opposing the remand petition of the ED. The ED can keep me in custody for as many days as it wants. But this is a scam. The ED had two objectives. One is to crush AAP, and the second is to create a smokescreen and run an extortion racket behind it through which they are collecting money," Kejriwal stated.
On its part, the ED claimed that the AAP national convenor was not cooperating with its probe.
Kejriwal has also filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest.
But on March 27, the court refused to grant interim relief to the Chief Minister, saying "orders cannot be passed" without hearing the Enforcement Directorate's argument.
It asked the probe agency to file a response by April 2 and fixed the date of hearing on April 3.
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