Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody was extended by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Monday until April 23 in a money-laundering case involving the purported excise policy scam.
The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) participated in the hearing virtually. The court also said that co-accused K Kavitha’s judicial custody has been prolonged until April 23 in its judgement. The AAP’s ongoing supremo custody extensions might seriously harm the party’s efforts to campaign for the Lok Sabha in 2024.
The Supreme Court on Monday requested a response from the Enforcement Directorate in the case during a separate hearing on Arvind Kejriwal’s plea contesting the arrest by the ED. The AAP convener has requested that the law enforcement agency respond to their plea by April 24. The matter will be heard on April 29.
AAP MP Sandeep Pathak announced on Monday that he will convene a conference with two ministers to discuss matters starting the next week, while Arvind Kejriwal remains Delhi’s chief minister.
Bhagwant Mann, the chief minister of Punjab, charged that the AAP leader was being treated like a lifelong criminal by the Tihar jail management. Mann claimed the AAP chairman was not receiving the same facilities as even the most ardent offenders after meeting the Delhi chairman Minister on Monday while he was incarcerated.
Mann, who was escorted by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, claimed that they spoke with Kejriwal over the phone for 30 minutes after meeting him behind a glass wall.
“I became emotional seeing him. He is being treated like a hardcore criminal. What is his fault? Is it his fault that he built mohalla clinics?” said Mann.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED in connection with a now-scrapped liquor policy case on March 21. His arrest has sparked a massive protest by the Aam Aadmi Party and other political parties of the opposition INDIA bloc. The incident also garnered the attention of the United States and Germany.
