Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, will continue to be held in Tihar Jail until April 15, following a city court’s decision last week. The Delhi High Court’s rejection of Kejriwal’s challenge to his arrest in the alleged liquor policy scam means he will remain in custody, with his Aam Aadmi Party indicating their intention to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has labeled Kejriwal as the “kingpin” of the scam, accusing him of conspiring to formulate the now-defunct policy and soliciting kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crore. These funds allegedly fueled campaign expenses for the 2022 Goa elections.
The Delhi High Court upheld the validity of Kejriwal’s arrest, citing evidence presented by the ED, including statements from approvers and a candidate from AAP Goa claiming to have received kickbacks. This decision affirms earlier remand orders that placed Kejriwal in ED custody and subsequently in Tihar Jail until mid-April.
The court dismissed Kejriwal’s arguments questioning the approvers’ statements, emphasizing that doubting the grant of pardon to accused individuals undermines the judicial process. It also rejected claims of political motives behind Kejriwal’s arrest, stating that the matter pertains to legal proceedings between Kejriwal and the ED, not political conflicts.
The rejection of Kejriwal’s petition sparked reactions from rival parties, with BJP MP Manoj Tiwari asserting that “a criminal is a criminal.” In response, AAP’s Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj reiterated that no evidence of alleged bribes has been found by either the ED or the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Kejriwal’s time in Tihar Jail, where he has been since April 1, comes amid ongoing investigations into the alleged kickbacks related to the Delhi liquor policy. The ED contends that the policy allowed exorbitant profit margins, with a significant portion allegedly diverted as bribes for political purposes.
Sources By Agencies