Arvind Kejriwal’s ED Remand Extended Till April 1; HC Rejects PIL Seeking Removal Of CM

New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday extended Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s) custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until April 1.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja passed the order after Kejriwal was produced in court on expiry of his six days of ED custody.

The ED had pleaded for a further seven-day remand and mentioned that they are analysing data which they have extracted from a mobile phone belonging to Kejriwal’s wife Sunita. Data from four other digital devices, reportedly belonging to the CM and seized during the search conducted on March 21, are yet to be extracted.

In another significant development, the Delhi High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought the removal of Kejriwal as CM and prevention of issuing orders while being in ED custody. The high court said there was no scope for judicial interference in this aspect.

The Delhi CM, who appeared in Rouse Avenue court, said that his arrest was a political conspiracy and that the public would give an answer. Kejriwal, who himself decided to address the court, said ED arrested him without any concrete allegation or proof.

“I am named by four witnesses in the excise policy case. Are four statements enough to arrest a sitting CM?” he questioned.

The Delhi CM went on to allege that Director of Aurobindo Pharma Limited Sarath Chandra Reddy, who is one of the co-accused-turned-approvers in the Delhi liquor policy case, had donated Rs 55 crore to the BJP.

“I have evidence of this. Money trail is established as he donated the funds after being arrested,” Kejriwal claimed.

A day earlier, Delhi High Court declined interim relief to Kejriwal who had challenged the arrest. The high court issued notice and gave ED time till April 2 to file a response and scheduled the next hearing for April 3.