Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's Judicial Custody Extended Till April 23 In Excise Case; SC Issues Notice To ED

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, hours after the high court refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the federal anti-money laundering agency.

A Delhi Court prolonged the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until April 23 in the money laundering case associated with the defunct liquor policy today. Kejriwal, apprehended on the night of March 21, appeared virtually before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts as his previous judicial custody concluded. The Court explained that the extension aligns with the conclusion of the co-accused, BRS leader K Kavitha's, judicial custody on April 23.

On the other hand, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the agency and his subsequent remand in the excise policy case. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta refused to give an early hearing of the case as sought by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal.

During the hearing, Singhvi urged the bench to give a short date for the hearing, preferably the coming Friday. The bench said, "We will give you a short date, but it is not possible to meet the date suggested by you." Singhvi said the arrest of Kejriwal was made to disable him from campaigning.

The apex court posted the case for further hearing in the week commencing from April 29.