On Monday, a Delhi court extended the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), until April 15 in relation to the Delhi excise policy case.
Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court issued the directive. Arvind Kejriwal's legal team submitted a request to permit him to read three books during his time in jail: the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and How Prime Ministers Decide. Additionally, he sought authorization for a special diet and to wear a religious locket.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over allegations of being the "key conspirator" in a money laundering case. This occurred shortly after the Delhi High Court rejected his plea for interim protection from arrest. On March 22, Kejriwal was presented before Judge Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court, who initially granted the ED custody of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader until March 28.
On March 28, Kejriwal's custody under the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was extended. Today, as the ED custody period concluded, Kejriwal was brought before the court by the ED. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the ED, stated that the Chief Minister was not cooperating with the investigation.
"Arvind Kejriwal's conduct has been totally non cooperative and he has tried to mislead the interrogation. He said Vijay Nair does not report to me but to Atishi. Kejriwal is not sharing the password for his phone," it was argued.
"How far are these arguments relevant to the application for Judicial Custody," the court asked.
"We reserve the right to seek his ED custody at a later stage," the ASG replied.
Kejriwal's arrest marked the first time a sitting Chief Minister in India was put behind bars while still in office. The Enforcement Directorate's action triggered multiple rounds of legal proceedings before both the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, alongside the remand hearings held at the Rouse Avenue Court complex in Delhi.
On Wednesday, March 27, the High Court rejected the request for interim relief and instructed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit its response to the matter by April 2.
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