A Delhi Court has granted 6-days remand of Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a money laundering case related to the Delhi Excise policy scam. The ED had sought 10-day custody of Kejriwal.

The CM will remain in ED custody till March 28.

Kejriwal was produced in the Trial Court shortly after he withdrew from the Apex Court his writ petition against his arrest by the ED.

During the hearing before the Trial Court, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju and Special Public Prosecutor Zoheb Hossain appeared for ED, and Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhary appeared for Kejriwal.

The ED told Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue Court that Kejriwal received several crores of rupees as kickbacks from the 'South group' for formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22.

It also submitted that Kejriwal was a "key conspirator" in the excise policy scam case along with other ministers and AAP leaders. The ASG submitted that Hawala trails of Rs. 45 crores have been traced and the money was used in Goa election.

On the contrary, the Senior Counsels, on behalf of Kejriwal, opposed the remand Application and argued that statements of witnesses cannot be grounds for arresting him. Singhvi also argued that there is no direct evidence and that without any material in possession of the ED on the basis of which Kejriwal can be believed to be guilty of an offence, he is being illegally and arbitrarily arrested.

In the morning today, Singhvi had mentioned seeking urgent hearing of Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest. The Bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had asked Singhvi to approach the Bench led by Justice Sanjeev Khanna. A Special Bench comprising of Justice Sanjeev Khanna, Justice MM Sundresh, and Justice Bela M. Trivedi was scheduled to hear the matter during the course of the day. However, thereafter the plea was withdrawn.

While withdrawing the plea, Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi told the Supreme Court that they wanted to contest ED's prayer for remand before the Trial Court.

The AAP had moved the Apex Court on Thursday (March 21) late in the evening after the ED arrested Kejriwal. The agency took him to its headquarters in central Delhi. The Delhi CM's legal team attempted to get a late night hearing from the Supreme Court. However, no special Supreme Court Bench was set up on Thursday night to hear the CM's plea challenging his Arrest.

The Arrest of the first sitting Chief Minister came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the agency.

Cause Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. Arvind Kejriwal

Special Judge Kaveri BawejaRouse Avenue Court

Sukriti Mishra