Arvind Kejriwal has been detained at Tihar Jail. Kejriwal has been placed alone in barrack number 2 of the prison. Tonight marks his first night at Tihar. The barrack, measuring 14 feet by 8 feet, includes a television and a raised concrete platform. Four guards will be stationed outside the barrack at all times. Kejriwal has requested three books for his study while incarcerated: the Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gita, and Neerja Chaudhary's 'How Prime Ministers Decide'. Additionally, he has sought permission to keep medication in the jail.
Kejriwal has provided the names of six individuals he wishes to meet while in jail. According to the rules, any incarcerated person can submit up to ten names to the prison administration for visitation. So far, Kejriwal has only listed six people with the Tihar Jail administration. The policy also mentions that prisoners can change the submitted names later at their discretion.
The Six Names Submitted by Kejriwal:
- Wife Sunita- Son Pulkit- Daughter Harshita- Friend Sandeep Pathak- Personal Assistant Vibhav Kumar- Another friend
Other Accused Held in Separate Tihar Jails
Manish Sisodia is confined in Tihar's Jail number one. Sanjay Singh is in Jail number five, Satyendar Jain in Jail number seven, Kavita is in Jail number six, and Vijay Nair in Jail number four. As of today, Jail number two will be Arvind Kejriwal's new address for the next 14 days. Tihar Jail is not only the largest in the country, but also reputedly the biggest in Southeast Asia. Among its inmates are dangerous terrorists, underworld dons, and infamous gangsters.
ED Arrested Kejriwal on March 21
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had issued nine summonses to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as part of the inquiry into his role in the alleged Delhi liquor scandal. The first summons was sent on November 2 last year. However, Kejriwal did not appear for any. On March 21st, Kejriwal applied to the High Court for relief from arrest but was denied. Later that day, at 7 PM, the ED team reached Kejriwal's residence with the tenth summons. After two hours of questioning, they arrested him. Kejriwal is the first sitting Chief Minister who has been arrested. The next day, the Rouse Avenue Court remanded Kejriwal to ED custody until March 28th, which was then extended to April 1st.
What was the New Liquor Policy?
- On March 22, 2021, Manish Sisodia announced the new liquor policy. It was implemented as the Excise Policy 2021-22 on November 17, 2021.
- Following the policy's introduction, the government exited the liquor business, transferring all shops to private ownership.
- The government claimed the policy would end the mafia rule and increase revenue.
- However, the policy was controversial from the start. When the uproar escalated, on July 28, 2022, the government rescinded the new liquor policy and reinstated the old one.
