kejriwal-s-judicial-custody-extended-until-july-25

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody has been extended by the Rouse Avenue Court amid ongoing developments in the Delhi excise policy case. This extension came shortly after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in a related Enforcement Directorate (ED) case.

 

On Friday, the special judge Kaveri Baweja ordered the extension of Kejriwal's judicial custody until July 25. The Delhi Chief Minister appeared via video conference from Tihar Jail. The court also directed the Enforcement Directorate to provide a copy of the supplementary charge sheet to Kejriwal's counsel and other accused.

 

The courtroom saw appearances from Pankaj Gupta, National Secretary of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and an official representative of the party. Another accused, Vinod Chauhan, was also present. Ashish Mathur, another individual charged in the case, was granted bail on a bond of Rs 1 lakh and was charged without arrest.

 

Previously, on July 9, the court had taken cognizance of the supplementary charge sheets filed against Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP, as well as against Vinod Chauhan and Ashish Mathur.

 

These charge sheets are part of the ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the Delhi excise policy, marking the seventh and eighth supplementary charge sheets filed in the case.

 

The Enforcement Directorate initially filed a supplementary prosecution complaint against Kejriwal and AAP on May 17. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21, and further supplementary complaints were filed against Chauhan and Mathur on July 1.

 

The case involves allegations of bribery and hawala transactions, including claims that Rs 100 crores were demanded as bribes for the AAP’s Goa election campaign.

 

During court proceedings, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju argued against Kejriwal's bail plea, presenting evidence that suggested Kejriwal was involved in the bribery scheme.

 

The ASG claimed that bribe money was sent through hawala transactions and that Kejriwal had communicated with hawala dealers. The prosecution contended that Kejriwal was aware of and involved in the financial irregularities related to the Goa election campaign.

 

The ASG also highlighted statements and evidence showing that bribes were used for campaign funding and detailed interactions between Kejriwal and Vinod Chauhan. The case continues to unfold as the judicial process moves forward, with Kejriwal’s role and involvement under intense scrutiny.