New Delhi, March 28 (Hindustan Reporter) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will present Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, arrested on March 21 in the alleged excise policy scam case of the Delhi government, today in the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue Court complex in the capital. On March 23, the court had sent Kejriwal to ED custody till Thursday. Today Kejriwal's ED custody is ending.
On March 23, ASG SV Raju, appearing for the directorate, had said that Arvind Kejriwal is the main conspirator of the liquor policy scam. ED has found many important documents in the raid at Kejriwal's house. Vijay Nair was living near Kejriwal in a house given to Delhi government minister Kailash Gehlot. He played the role of mediator between the South Group and the Aam Aadmi Party. Kejriwal had demanded bribe from South Group. This is confirmed by the statements. Kejriwal K. Had also met Kavita. Arvind Kejriwal is the brain behind Aam Aadmi Party. They conduct its major activities. He is the national coordinator.
He had said that the excise policy was changed to fund the Aam Aadmi Party's Goa elections. Electronic evidence was destroyed in the excise scam case. Many mobile phones were destroyed or formatted. Despite this, the Central Investigation Agency has done an amazing job. Kejriwal has not been arrested before the summons. When to arrest whom comes under the purview of the investigating officer. There is nothing to suggest that Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested in violation of the provisions of Section 19 of the Money Laundering Act.
On this, senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing on behalf of Kejriwal, had said that detention is not automatic. Section 19 has to be satisfied for detention. The word guilty has not been used in other laws but the word guilty has been used in the Money Laundering Act. The need for custody has to be explained. ED has the right to arrest but it does not mean that there should be a need to arrest. The entire application seeking custody is a copy paste of the reason for arrest except a few paragraphs.
It is noteworthy that after Arvind Kejriwal was not granted protection from arrest by the Delhi High Court on March 21, the ED had arrested Kejriwal late in the evening on March 21 after questioning him. Even on March 27, the High Court had refused to give relief to Kejriwal.