News Brief
Arvind Kejriwal Sent To ED Custody Till 28 March In Delhi Liquor Policy Case
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
A Delhi court on Friday (22 March) sent Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party chief, to six-day ED custody in Liquor policy case.
The Rouse Avenue court sent Kejriwal to ED custody till 28 March.
The ED told the Rouse Avenue court that the Arvind Kejriwal was the "kingpin" and "key conspirator" in the liquor policy scam in the national capital.
The agency had sought the custody of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader for a period of 10 days.
The agency claimed Kejriwal was the middleman between the 'south group' and other accused, including ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia (arrested last year) and AAP officer Vijay Nair.
According to the agency, the total proceeds of the alleged scam exceeded Rs 600 crore, including Rs 100 crore allegedly paid by the 'south group'.
The South Group, the agency has claimed, includes Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, who was arrested last week.
The agency claimed Rs 45 crore of the kickbacks were used to fund the AAP's Goa and Punjab elections in 2022.
In response to the ED's assertions, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, challenged the necessity of his client's arrest.
Singhvi questioned the grounds for detention, emphasising the absence of conclusive evidence linking Kejriwal to the alleged misconduct.
Kejriwal was arrested by the central agency on Thursday (21 March) night after he skipped nine summons issued by the agency in the case.
ED's action came after the Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to grant Kejriwal protection from arrest in the case.
Meanwhile, AAP has said that Kejriwal will continue to discharge his chief ministerial duties from jail - a prospect that may create a constitutional crisis.
Kejriwal filed a plea in the Supreme Court against his arrest but later decided to withdraw it.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing Kejriwal, told the top court that he will argue the case before the Magistrate regarding his remand when ED produces him before the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi.
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