Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 28: The custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been extended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till April 1 in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam case. Kejriwal was arrested on the night of March 21 and was produced before the Special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The extension came after the expiry of his initial six days of ED custody. On March 27, the Delhi High Court had refused interim relief to Kejriwal, only issuing a notice on his plea challenging the arrest and remand.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju informed the court that Kejriwal was providing "evasive replies" during interrogation, and the agency needed more time to confront him with individuals summoned from Goa. ED sought seven more days of custody, asserting that being a sitting CM did not exempt Kejriwal from the legal process.

In a personal address to the court today, Kejriwal stated that he did not oppose the remand, attributing the case to a "political conspiracy" and claiming there was no substantive evidence against him. He accused the central probe agency of selectively collecting material and coercing the approver to incriminate him.

The agency alleged that Kejriwal had refused to share the password of his mobile phone, but Kejriwal contended that ED lacked the authority to compel him to unlock his electronic devices.

Background of the case

Kejriwal had previously disregarded nine summons issued by ED. Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are also implicated in the case and are currently in judicial custody.

Following his arrest, Kejriwal had urgently petitioned the Supreme Court, contesting his arrest. However, the petition was later withdrawn.

Furthermore, Kejriwal had filed a petition before the Delhi High Court challenging the summonses issued by the central probe agency. He had also sought interim protection. The hearing for these matters is scheduled for April 22.

Earlier, ED had lodged two criminal complaints against Kejriwal in the Rouse Avenue Courts, alleging non-compliance with summonses. Kejriwal has justified his non-attendance, claiming the summonses were illegitimate.

ED has accused Arvind Kejriwal of orchestrating the Delhi excise scam and being directly involved in laundering proceeds amounting to over Rs. 100 crores.

The agency alleges that the excise policy was implemented as part of a conspiracy to grant certain private companies a 12 percent profit margin in wholesale business, a stipulation not reflected in the minutes of meetings.

ED further contends that Vijay Nair and others, acting on behalf of Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, coordinated this conspiracy with the South Group to provide extraordinary profit margins to wholesalers.