delhi-cm-kejriwal-returns-to-tihar-jail

The Rouse Avenue Court on Sunday sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody until June 5, 2024. He surrendered in Tihar Jail following Supreme Court directions. Duty Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal confirmed this.

 

The court considered an application from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking judicial custody for Kejriwal. The application was pending because he was on interim bail.

 

After his surrender, the Duty Judge remanded Kejriwal to judicial custody until June 5. ED sought an extension of judicial custody by 14 days.

 

Advocates Rishikesh Kumar and Vivek Jain, representing Kejriwal, opposed the application. They stated that his arrest has been challenged before the Supreme Court, and an order is pending.

 

The court also reserved the order on a fresh interim bail plea by Kejriwal. It cited medical reasons in the Excise Policy money laundering case. The court set June 5 for the order's pronouncement.

 

ED raised concerns about the maintainability of the fresh interim bail plea. They highlighted Kejriwal's recent campaigning in Punjab despite health issues.

 

Kejriwal had earlier approached the Supreme Court for an extension of interim bail, which was rejected. The Supreme Court clarified that his plea for extension has no relation to the main petition challenging his arrest.

 

The Rouse Avenue Court reserved the order on the cognizance point on ED's Supplementary Chargesheet against Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in connection with the money laundering case. The matter is scheduled for June 4.

 

Enforcement Directorate officials filed the charge sheet in the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on May 17. Kejriwal was granted interim bail until June 1 by the Supreme Court in the money laundering case. However, he was directed not to visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat.

 

Kejriwal's appeal against a Delhi High Court judgement was heard by the Supreme Court. The High Court had dismissed his plea against arrest by the ED in the excise policy case, stating his non-cooperation led to his arrest.

 

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22.