Arvind Kejriwal news Highlights: Court extends ED remand of Delhi CM till April 1

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday congratulated his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann on his newborn while being escorted out from the court by the Enforcement Directorate.

"Many congratulations to Mann sahab, he has been blessed with a daughter today," Kejriwal said while being produced before the court.

In a post on X, AAP MP Raghav Chadha responded to Kejriwal's message and wrote, "He got one opportunity to speak and he chose to congratulate his younger brother Bhagwant Mann on the arrival of his baby girl. This is Kejriwal — a brother, a true leader!"

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, during his remand hearing in a city court, sought to know whether just four statements against him in connection with the alleged excise policy scam were enough for his arrest.

Kejriwal also said in the court that the objective of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the alleged liquor scam was to "crush AAP and prove it was corrupt", said Bharadwaj who was present in the court.

The Delhi chief minister also brought to the cognisance of the court that one of the four witnesses whose statements were used against him, donated ₹55 crore to the BJP through electoral bonds which was a proof of money trail in the alleged liquor scam, Bharadwaj said in a press conference.

On Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, BJP leader Shazia Ilmi says, "...You (Sunita Kejriwal) had said that Arvind Kejriwal would give some explosive statement, but nothing like that happened. Is Kejriwal confused or trying to confuse us all? Because the question here is about bribery, it is about the whole liquor scam, not about electoral bonds...Arvind Kejriwal please explain the difference between electoral bonds and bribery and why he has been found involved in the bribery case..."

As the Delhi court extends the ED remand of CM Arvind Kejriwal till April 1 in the excise policy case, BJP Delhi President Virendraa Sachdeva says, "...The investigative agency is doing its work, I think we should let them do their work; everything is going to be apparent when things will come in court...I welcome this decision..."

"CM (Arvind Kejriwal) tried to explain how all this (his arrest by ED) is a 'political conspiracy'. They (BJP) don't want Arvind Kejriwal to participate in the elections. They fear that he is the only one whose questions BJP and PM Modi cannot answer," says advocate Somnath Bharti on court extending Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's ED custody till April 1.

Here's what AAP Legal Cell Head Sanjeev Nasiar informed about Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal presenting his arguments in front of Delhi HC in excise policy case.

The Court permitted Arvind Kejriwal to present his case. He said, “The recording of statements of accused were stopped during investigation when names of him and Manish Sisodia came, then, they were made approver and bail was granted. ED's claim of 100 cr money trail is doubtful and debatable. Sharat Reddy, after becoming approver has given 60 cr to BJP through electoral bonds and it has not been investigated by ED. ED's only intention is to defame and crush AAP. ED should first investigate the money trail of 60 crore.”

"Arvind Kejriwal said (in the court) that he has no objection to it (ED seeking extension of remand) and they be given the remand they have sought. Arvind Kejriwal did not oppose his remand, instead he welcomed it," says Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Rouse Avenue Court extending Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's ED custody till April 1.

The court on Thursday extended the Enforcement Directorate custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1 in the excise policy case. The agency had sought seven-day custody of the AAP chief, but the court said he has to be produced before the court on April 1 at 11 am.

The ED had produced him before Rouse Avenue court Special Judge Kaveri Baweja as his current custody was ending on Thursday.

The ED said in its fresh remand plea that during his custodial interrogation, his statements were recorded on five days and that he was "giving evasive replies".

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gaurav Bhatia on Thursday said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been arrested in connection with an excise policy-linked money laundering case, should resign from the post as he "cannot run the government from the lock up".

Bhatia told ANI that Kejriwal should resign on moral grounds. He accused the AAP leader of duplicity in words and actions.

"There are 1.5 crore people in the city and they are the responsibility of the Chief Minister of the elected government. If you cannot give any orders from jail, then how will you serve the public? Arvind Kejriwal cheats everyone," Bhatia said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal on Thursday claimed he is not keeping well and is being "harassed a lot".

Kejriwal has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. Earlier on Thursday, a court here extended the chief minister's ED custody till April 1.

Sunita Kejriwal, who had come for her husband's court hearing, told reporters, "He has not been keeping well. His sugar levels are fluctuating. He is being harassed a lot. This tyranny won't last and people will give a reply."

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court saw heated arguments between chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the lawyers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during the hearing in the excise policy case on Thursday. The ED said Arvind Kejriwal was giving evasive replies and not disclosing passwords of his digital devices.

Delhi Court extended ED remand of Arvind Kejriwal till April 1. ED while seeking remand stated that Data in one mobile phone (belonging to the arrestee's wife) has been extracted and is being analyzed. However, data from the other 4 digital devices seized during search at Arvind Kejriwal's premises on 21.03.2024 (belonging to the arrestee himself) are yet to be extracted as the arrestee has sought time to provide password/login credentials after consulting with his lawyers.

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa reacted on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's 'political conspiracy' remark on his arrest by ED saying, "We trusted the public but you (Arvind Kejriwal) didn’t. Therefore, you joined hands with Congress. You befooled the people. You didn’t listen to them but trusted corrupt Rahul Gandhi.”

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday himself made submissions before Delhi's Rouse Avenue court which is hearing the Delhi excise policy case.

1. During the hearing, Kejriwal allegd that a ‘smokescreen' of AAP is being corrupt created in front of the nation.

2. “I am named by 4 witnesses in excise policy case, are 4 statements enough to arrest a sitting CM,” the AAP leader said in his submission before the court.

3. “It's being alleged that there it was a ₹100 cr scam...Justice Sanjiv Khanna said that the money trail is not yet traced,” he added.

4. Alleging political conspiracy behind his arrest, Kejriwal argued that people are being turned 'approver' in the case and they are being forced to change their statements.

5. “The case has been going on for the past two years. The CBI had filed a case in August 2022. Then, an ECIR was filed,” Kejriwal was quoted by LiveLaw as saying.

A day after Delhi Lt Governor said the city government will not be run from jail, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called it a “political conspiracy” and said “people will give a reply".

Minutes before being produced in a city court on Thursday, Kejriwal was asked about Saxena's statement.

In his response, the chief minister said, "This is a political conspiracy. The people will give a reply."

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and subsequently remanded in the agency's custody till March 28 by a court here.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday began questioning Aam Aadmi Party's Goa unit president Amit Palekar and three others in connection with a money laundering case. The ED had summoned Palekar, AAP leader Ramrao Wagh and two others - Dattaprasad Naik and Ashok Naik - for questioning in a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Although details of the case are yet to be known, sources said they were called for questioning in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, in which Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and some other AAP leaders have been arrested. Dattaprasad and Ashok are leaders of the Bhandari community in Goa.

Ramesh Gupta, lawyer for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in liquor excise policy case, said to the reporters, "Mr Kejriwal conceded that he is ready to cooperate and he has no objection to being in custody. We told the court that we oppose the grounds on which remand is being sought. The court will grant remand custody now that he has conceded before the court."

Police detain a man who brought liquor in the premises of Rouse Avenue Court, where Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is being produced in connection with the excise policy case. Kejriwal was being produced in the court as his six-day remand ended today.

The AAP national convener was arrested by the ED in the case on March 21 and subsequently he was sent to remand till March 28 by the court.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday himself made submissions in a court here during the hearing in the excise policy case and said a smokescreen of the AAP being corrupt has been created before the nation.

He made the submissions as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced him in the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja and sought seven-day further custody, arguing he needs to be confronted with some people linked with the case.

The ED said Kejriwal was giving evasive replies and not disclosing passwords of his digital devices.

In his submissions, Kejriwal said, "I am named by four witnesses in the excise policy case. Are 4 statements enough to arrest a sitting CM?"

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL seeking the removal of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal from the post of chief minister following his arrest in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.

A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan refused to comment on the merits of the issue, saying the same fell outside the scope of judicial interference.

"It is for the other wings of the government to examine in accordance with the law," the bench, also comprising Justice Manmeet PS Arora, said.

ED tells court during the hearing that CM Arvind Kejriwal giving evasive replies and not disclosing passwords of his digital devices. In his submissions, Kejriwal said, "I am named by four witnesses in the excise policy case. Are 4 statements enough to arrest a sitting CM?"

The AAP national convener was arrested by the ED in the case on March 21 and subsequently he was sent to remand till March 28 by the court.

Delhi's Rouse Avenue court reserves order on Enforcement Directorate's plea seeking 7 days extension of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's custody remand

Advocate Ramesh Gupta responded in the court saying that there is a right of the accused to remain silent, they are saying that the phones have been recovered but he is not giving the password…it is his right to remain silent….I will cooperate with the investigation but not on their grounds.

In his submissions, Kejriwal said, "I am named by four witnesses in the excise policy case. Are 4 statements enough to arrest a sitting CM?"

A smokescreen of the Aam Aadmi Party being corrupt has been created in front of the nation, he said and added that he is ready to face ED probe.

The AAP national convener was arrested by the ED in the case on March 21 and subsequently he was sent to remand till March 28 by the court.

ASG Raju - We have a right to arrest…we have material to show that he demanded 100 crores kick back