In a significant development, Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to 14 days of judicial custody in a corruption case linked to the liquor policy, following a request from the CBI. The hearing culminated with the court agreeing to the CBI's demand for Kejriwal's judicial custody.
Kejriwal will be presented in court via video conferencing on July 12 at 2 PM. On Saturday, the CBI produced him in court as his three-day remand period concluded. Special Judge Sunaina Sharma, after initially reserving her decision on the CBI's petition, eventually ordered the 14-day judicial custody.
During the proceedings, Kejriwal's lawyer contested the CBI's remand request, seeking to introduce the evidence collected by the investigation. However, the judge responded that such matters are best left to the court's discretion and the critical elements of the investigation cannot be disclosed to the accused.
The CBI's counsel argued that the accused cannot request case details or the case diary. The judge assured that relevant parts of the case diary would be marked by the Investigating Officer (IO).
Kejriwal's lawyer highlighted that similar medical instructions granted to ED custodians should be extended to the CBI. The CBI's counsel had no objections, and the court confirmed that such permissions had already been granted.
CBI Did Not Request Police Custody: Kejriwal's Lawyer
Kejriwal's lawyer, Rishikesh Kumar, pointed out that the CBI only sought judicial custody, not police remand. The court, after hearing both sides, sent Kejriwal to judicial custody until July 12. A separate medical request concerning medication and glucose monitoring for Kejriwal was also approved.
Kumar argued that the CBI's claim that Kejriwal was evasive was unsubstantiated by the evidence provided by the agency. Furthermore, bail applications would be filed by Monday or Tuesday.
Kejriwal Was Arrested on March 21
The Chief Minister was apprehended by the CBI on March 21 for alleged irregularities in the liquor policy. Subsequently, ED took him into custody for a money laundering case on March 21. A lower court granted him bail, but the Delhi High Court stayed the order.
CBI Repeating James Bond Fantasies: Sanjay Singh
Criticizing Kejriwal's arrest, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the central government of keeping Kejriwal in jail through false charges. Singh asserted that the ED court had previously granted Kejriwal bail, indicating his presumed innocence. Singh also mentioned that the CBI's charges were as fanciful as James Bond stories and wouldn't hold in court.
Singh also referenced Hemant Soren's case, where the Prime Minister held Soren in jail for five months without evidence, questioning if PM Modi would apologize for the wrongful detention of a tribal CM. After five months, the High Court found no evidence against Soren.
