The Delhi Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest in a money laundering case. The Court said that the Enforcement Directorate had sufficient materials to arrest the Aam Aadmi Party leader.
Hearing a plea challenging his arrest by ED in a money laundering case registered in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma upheld Kejriwal’s arrest as valid and dismissed his petition. The Court observed the agency was in possession of enough material which led to his arrest. His non-joining of the probe, delay caused by him, impacted those in judicial custody, the Court said.
The Court observed material collected by ED revealed that the Delhi CM conspired and was involved in the formulation of excise policy and used proceeds of crime. “He is allegedly involved in personal capacity in the formulation of policy and demanding kickbacks, and secondly, in the capacity of national convenor of AAP,” Live Law reported.
Kejriwal was arrested by ED on March 21 and has been remanded to judicial custody till April 15. The Delhi CM questioned the veracity of statements given by approvers and argued the statements were given in exchange for their release and ticket to contest elections. However, the Court said, “Who gives tickets for contesting election or who purchases electoral bonds is not the concern of the court."
