New Delhi: The Delhi High Court delivered a setback to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday by dismissing his plea against his arrest in the excise policy case. The court upheld the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) contention that there was sufficient evidence to warrant Kejriwal’s arrest in the money laundering case.
Rejecting Kejriwal’s objection to the use of an approver’s statement against him, the court emphasized that granting pardon to an approver is a judicial process beyond the purview of the ED. The court stated that the statements of approvers would be evaluated during the trial, and Kejriwal would have the opportunity to cross-examine them at that stage.
Furthermore, the court rejected Kejriwal’s request to be questioned through video conferencing, asserting that it is not for the accused to dictate the terms of the investigation. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma emphasized that the investigation cannot be tailored to the convenience of the accused, emphasizing that the court would not establish separate standards of law for public servants and the general public.
Addressing Kejriwal’s contention regarding the timing of his arrest, the court highlighted that Kejriwal had evaded multiple summons since October, indicating that he should have participated in the investigation earlier, particularly considering the upcoming election.
Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21, remains in judicial custody until April 15. The ED, investigating an excise scam, alleges Kejriwal as the mastermind behind the conspiracy, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) being the primary beneficiary. Kejriwal, a founding member of AAP, is accused of exerting control over its major activities and influencing policy decisions.
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