Liquor case is ‘Political Conspiracy’: No Relief for Kejriwal as court extends custody till April 1

March 28, 2024

New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue court in its order extended the custody of Arvind Kejriwal by 4 days.

Custody extended till April 1
Earlier court had reserved its order. The Rouse avenue court has extended the custody of arrested delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by 4 days till April 1. ED had sought extension in remand by one week whereas court extended the custody till April 1.

ED while seeking remand stated that Data in one mobile phone (belonging to the arrestee’s wife) has been extracted and is being analyzed. However, data from the other 4 digital devices seized during search at Arvind Kejriwal’s premises on 21.03.2024 (belonging to the arrestee himself) are yet to be extracted as the arrestee has sought time to provide password/login credentials after consulting with his lawyers.

Arvind Kejriwal produced before the court

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, has been brought before the Rouse Avenue Court on the conclusion of his Enforcement Directorate custodial remand on Thursday.

The agency is seeking additional remand of the Delhi CM since as per agency CM had been giving evasive replies.

As he entered the courtroom Kejriwal on asked about the statement of LG said “This is a political conspiracy and the people will answer it.”

The Delhi Chief Minister’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, and son are at the Rouse Avenue court to attend the proceedings. Delhi cabinet ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Gopal Rai, and several MLAs are also present in the Rouse Avenue Courtroom.

Order Reserved by court
After hearing the statements from both sides, Rouse Avenue court has reserved its order on ED’s plea seeking an extension of Arvind Kejriwal’s remand.

Kejriwal statements in the court
“CBI lodged an FIR on August 17, 2022, ED lodged ECIR on August 22, 2022…,” Kejriwal said. “I was arrested, but no court has proven me guilty yet. CBI filed 31,000 pages and ED has filed 25,000 pages related to this matter. Even if you read them together, I would like to ask why have I been arrested? My name came to light only in four statements of four people,” the Chief Minister said.

“Are these four statements made by different people sufficient to arrest a sitting Chief Minister?” he asked. Kejriwal referred to the statements of C Arvind, Raghav Magunta and his father and Sharath Reddy.

Kejriwal alleged out that people are being turned approver in the case and people are being forced to change their statements. He claimed that there is political conspiracy behind his arrest.

“You may keep me in remand as long as you like…I am ready for investigation,” the Delhi Chief Minister said.

We have to break open the passwords: ED

Meanwhile, the ED said that they have to break open the passwords if Kejriwal decides not to share the passwords.

“He has not disclosed the passwords so we do not have access to digital data. He says he will speak to his lawyers and then decide whether the passwords are to be given or not. If he does not we will have to break open the passwords,” the ED said.