New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody has been extended until April 23 by a Delhi court in connection with the excise policy case. Kejriwal appeared before the court via virtual conference, where the extension was granted. The court also extended the judicial custody of co-accused K Kavitha until the same date.
The 55-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor has been in Tihar jail since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21. The arrest followed the expiration of his ED remand, and came after the Delhi High Court denied him protection from coercive action by the central agency.
Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court sought a response from the ED regarding a plea filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta directed the ED to reply by April 24, scheduling the matter for hearing in the week commencing April 29.
The Delhi High Court had previously upheld Kejriwal’s arrest, stating that the agency had few options left after Kejriwal failed to appear for nine summonses and declined to join the probe. The court dismissed the AAP leader’s petition challenging his arrest and subsequent remand in the custody of the federal agency.