Rama Krishna Sangem
The Rouse Avenue trial court in Delhi on April 1, Monday sent chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody until April 15 in a money laundering case linked to a now-scrapped liquor policy, less than three weeks before the country begins voting in Lok Sabha elections.
This shows the amount of internal pressure brought on India to ensure fair and speedy trial of Kejriwal seems to have not been taken into consideration by the courts. At the same time, India has strongly objected to statements made by envoys of Germany and the US on the arrest of Kejriwal, saying that it was an internal matter.
Kejriwal was produced in the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja after his Enforcement Directorate custody came to an end. The probe agency sought 15-day judicial custody of Kejriwal and told the court that they may require further custody at a later date.
Additional solicitor general S. V. Raju, appearing for the ED, said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo has been “non-cooperative” during the custody and has been “evasive” with the replies. “He has deliberately not given passwords to the electronic devices,” Raju submitted.
Speaking to reporters before entering court, the AAP leader said, “Whatever the prime minister is doing(referring to his arrest) is not good for the country”. AAP ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal were present in court.
Delhi HC refused stay
On the other hand, the Delhi high court refused to entertain a plea seeking to restrain the chief minister from issuing orders while in ED’s custody in the money laundering case.
The court asked the central agency to submit a note to the special judge who is currently dealing with the excise policy case and directed the judge to pass appropriate orders in accordance with the law.
“This court directs respondent number 2 (ED) to bring its comments to the notice of the said judge who is directed to pass appropriate orders in accordance with the law. It is clarified that this court has not commented on the locus standi of the petition and the same is left open, said the court in its order on April 1.
