After SC Setback, Delhi Court Sends Kejriwal To Judicial Custody Till April 23 | Updates

Minutes after the Supreme Court refused an early hearing of Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest, the Delhi Rouse Avenue court on Monday sent the Delhi Chief Minister to judicial custody till April 23.

The development came after the top court postponed the plea of Kejriwal on the week commencing from April 29. The top court further asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its response on or before April 24.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal told the Supreme Court that the arrest was made to disable him from campaigning.

The apex court’s decision came in response to the plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and his subsequent remand in connection with the alleged now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy case.

The AAP supremo had moved the top court challenging a Delhi High Court judgment that dismissed his plea on April 9 and rejected his argument of political vendetta amid the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The Delhi Court on April 1 sent Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15 in the excise policy scam case.

SC to Hear Arvind Kejriwal’s Plea Today | Top Updates

• The Delhi Chief Minister was arrested on March 21 after he skipped nine summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
• The Delhi High Court rejected Kejriwal’s plea on April 9 challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and remand order passed by the trial court in connection with the excise policy case.
• According to the Delhi High Court, the probe agency had sufficient materials to justify the arrest, adding that it was an “inevitable consequence of his non-cooperation” with the ED. The probe agency had summoned Arvind Kejriwal nine times in connection to the case, but he did not depose before it.
• Kejriwal on April 10 moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Delhi High Court’s order on his arrest linked to the alleged excise scam.
• Notably, Kejriwal is the first sitting Chief Minister to be arrested. The Delhi Chief Minister is currently lodged in Tihar jail. 
• In addition to Kejriwal, AAP leader Manish Sisodia is in jail since February last year in the excise policy case. Sanjay Singh was also arrested in the case, however, he recently walked out of the jail on bail on April 3.
• Meanwhile, AAP leaders, including Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to crush AAP by putting Delhi Chief Minister behind bars. The party leaders also claimed that after Kejriwal, the saffron party would use investigative agencies to arrest them.
• In a major blow to the Aam Aadmi Party, its Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand on April 10 quit the party and resigned from all his positions. Announcing the decision, the minister accused the party of being involved in corruption and being anti-Dalit.
• In another setback to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his private secretary Bibhav Kumar was also sacked over alleged violation of rules during his appointment. According to the Directorate of Vigilance’s order, Bibhav Kumar’s services have been terminated with immediate effect stating that he was appointed in violation of the Central Civil Service Rules.