In a significant development, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal was presented before a special court by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) this Thursday. The ED sought a seven-day custody extension, alleging non-cooperation from Kejriwal during interrogation and the necessity to confront him with another accused involved in the case.
Kejriwal raised questions about his arrest, stating, “Why have I been arrested? There are no charges against me. Is there sufficient basis for my arrest? No court has found me guilty yet; why then am I arrested without any charges?” Despite his arguments, the court extended his remand until April 1.
This case revolves around the alleged money laundering linked to the Delhi liquor scam, leading to Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED on March 21. He was initially placed in a seven-day custody, which was due to end today. During the court proceedings, the ED pressed for an additional four-day custody extension, which was granted, extending Kejriwal’s remand until April 1.
In court, Kejriwal mentioned, “The interrogation was conducted in a conducive environment. My name has come up only four times in the case.” On the other hand, the ED informed the court about the recorded statements of Kejriwal and expressed a desire to confront him with Deepak Chaggela, an AAP leader from Goa.
The ED’s stance was clear—they sought to gather comprehensive information about the case, accusing Kejriwal of deliberately withholding information and his Income Tax Returns. The agency had previously recorded statements from Deepak Chaggela.
Kejriwal defended himself by stating that the case has been ongoing for two years, and no court has yet found him guilty. He highlighted the extensive charge sheets filed by the CBI and ED, totaling tens of thousands of pages, yet his name has only appeared in four statements. He read out statements where his name was mentioned, questioning the sufficiency of such references for the arrest of a sitting Chief Minister.
During the proceedings, the court and the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) raised concerns about Kejriwal not providing written statements. The ASG pointed out that Kejriwal’s responses were not straightforward and that the digital data obtained is being examined. There are individuals being summoned from Goa for a face-to-face statement recording.
At one point, the judge had to remind Kejriwal’s lawyer to lower his voice, emphasizing the need for written submissions that could become part of the court’s records. The ED argued that examining Kejriwal’s statements was crucial for the investigation and accused him of non-cooperation.
In an extensive dialogue, Kejriwal outlined his interactions with various individuals, mentioning visits and discussions about setting up charitable organizations. He also brought up electoral bonds from Sharat Chandra Reddy’s company, Arbind Pharma, indicating a complex web of financial transactions and political donations.
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The court session was filled with questions and rebuttals, ranging from the validity of Kejriwal’s arrest to the evidence presented by the ED. Kejriwal emphasized his readiness to cooperate with the investigation, stating, “We want to present everything to the court.”
The ED maintained that the investigation aims to uncover the truth behind the alleged hawala transactions used to fund election campaigns in Goa. They contested Kejriwal’s narrative, arguing that the documents at their disposal prove the misuse of funds for electoral purposes, a claim that remains under investigation.
