Arvind Kejriwal Arrested: No relief from PMLA court, ED gets 6 days remand

Arvind Kejriwal Arrested: The court has reserved the decision on the ED’s application seeking custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in the money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor policy. The order will be pronounced shortly.

The ED has sought 10-day custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal from Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, saying he was the ‘main conspirator’ along with party leaders involved in the case. 

CM Kejriwal sent to ED remand till March 28

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has sent CM Kejriwal to ED remand. He will now be on ED remand till March 28. ED had sought ten days remand from the court but the court has given six days remand. He will be produced in court again on March 28. The court meeting lasted for about three hours.

What did ED argue? 

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV, who appeared in the court on behalf of ED, said that Kejriwal had sought Rs 100 crore from South Group to contest the Punjab elections. He said that AAP is not a person but a ‘company’. In such a situation, every person responsible for the conduct of the ‘company’ will be held responsible. 

What did the ED allege? 

The ED has alleged that there has been alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are currently in judicial custody in the case.

ED has claimed that Arvind Kejriwal, taking advantage of being the Chief Minister of Delhi, helped Aam Aadmi Party in money laundering.

ED made these allegations in the remand note – ‘AAP is a company, Kejriwal is the mastermind, South lobby, Goa cartel’

While seeking the custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the court, ED said that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is not a person but a company. The central investigation agency has said this in its remand note. 

ED further said in the remand note that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal played an important role in making and implementing the Delhi liquor policy. As such, he is the mastermind in the money laundering case related to the Delhi Excise Policy.

What did ED claim in the remand note?

The central investigating agency said in the note that it cited the statement of C Arvind, who was the secretary of former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. It said that in March 2021, Manish Sisodia called C Arvind to Kejriwal’s house and gave him a 30-page GOM draft. Satyendra Jain and Arvind Kejriwal were present during this time.

It has also been claimed that the money received as kickback was invested by AAP in the Goa elections. ED also made many similar claims during the hearing in the court. 

What did ED say? 

ED told the court that Arvind Kejriwal was the main conspirator in the liquor policy case. Several crores of rupees were taken as bribe from South Group to implement the policy. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared on behalf of Kejriwal, said that there was no need for arrest in this case. 

ED claims that there has been irregularities and money laundering in the making and implementation of Delhi liquor policy. Many leaders including AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have been involved in this. Both the leaders are currently in jail in the case.