New Delhi: In another setback to Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi High Court on Saturday denied an urgent listing of the Delhi chief minister’s plea challenging his arrest and custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money-laundering case lined to the now-scrapped liquor policy.
The matter will be listed for hearing only after the court reopens on March 27 following Holi closures.
Kejriwal, who on Friday was sent to six-day ED custody by the Rouse Avenue court, had earlier in the day approached Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing by Saturday evening or Sunday.
In his petition, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief argued that both the arrest and remand order are illegal, and he is entitled to be released from custody immediately.
ED argued during the remand application hearing that Kejriwal was the “key conspirator and kingpin” of the Delhi excise policy scam. The probe agency also said in court that Kejriwal was in touch with then-deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Telangana’s BRS leader K Kavitha, who were also arrested in the case.
ED has alleged that Kejriwal was directly involved in formulating the policy, demanding kickbacks and handling the proceeds of crime.
Kejriwal’s defence has been that there is absolutely no evidence linking him to the alleged scam.
Ever since Kejriwal was arrested two nights ago, AAP has maintained that he will continue to be CM and will run the government from jail if necessary.
