Arvind Kejriwal News highlights: Delhi CM brought to Tihar Jail

There is no bar either in the Constitution or in law which prohibits jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from continuing in office but running the government from a prison is "practically impossible", the legal experts said on Monday.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Kejriwal on Monday was remanded to judicial custody till April 15.

The views of the legal experts are in line with the Delhi High Court’s observations on March 28 when it had dismissed a PIL seeking removal of Kejriwal from the post of chief minister following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

PTI

With Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal having been sent to judicial custody till April 15 by a city court in connection with the excise policy case, buzz over his replacement intensified even as his party leaders asserted that he will continue to head the government no matter how long he stays in jail.

Sunita Kejriwal, wife of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener, who made a political debut of sorts in the 'Loktantra Bachao' rally at the Ramlila ground here on Sunday, is likely to assume a significant role in coming days, the sources said.

In her speech at the Ramlila ground rally, she called Kejriwal a "lion" who will not stay behind the bars for long, and read out her husband's message announcing six guarantees ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, including free electricity for the poor in the country, full statehood for Delhi and minimum support price (MSP) to farmers according to the Swaminathan Commission report among others.

PTI

Taking to X on Monday evening, Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “To all those spreading fake news, I and @ArvindKejriwal ji both follow each other. Yesterday’s Ramlila Maidan Rally was superhit. Delhi people are with Kejriwal.”

There is no bar either in the Constitution or in law which prohibits jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from continuing in office but running the government from a prison is "ractically impossible", the legal experts said on Monday.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Kejriwal on Monday was remanded to judicial custody till April 15.

The views of the legal experts are in line with the Delhi High Court’s observations on March 28 when it had dismissed a PIL seeking removal of Kejriwal from the post of chief minister following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The high court had said there was no legal provision prohibiting the AAP leader from running the government post-arrest to warrant any judicial interference and the executive authorities would act in case there is a constitutional failure.

(PTI)

"Delhi deserves a competent Chief Minister, one who is not currently in the jail. The AAP, which currently holds the majority in the legislature, should appoint someone. It is important for Delhi to have a functional Chief Minister, as a cabinet cannot operate effectively without one," says advocate Rakesh Dwivedi.

A Delhi court on Monday sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15 in connection with a money laundering case related to a now-revoked liquor policy. This comes less than three weeks before the voting for Lok Sabha elections begins.

Kejriwal appeared before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja after his Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody ended. The enforcement agency requested 15-day judicial custody for Kejriwal, mentioning that they might need additional custody later on.

What will Kejriwal's schedule be like in jail?

Read Here.

Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa says, "This is very dangerous for democracy. The British never did what the BJP government is doing..."

AAP leader Kuldeep Kumar said, "Everyone knows that operation 'lotus' is being carried out to destroy Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government. But, this lotus would never be able to bloom in Delhi."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been brought to the Tihar Jail, where he will be lodged in Jail number 2, according to ANI. The chief minister has been sent to judicial custody till April 15 in the Delhi liquor policy case. Watch video.

Aam Aadmi Party workers stage protest outside Tihar Jail, after a Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court sent CM Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15.

"Today, the court's decision was based on facts. On the basis of facts, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been to judicial custody (till April 15). The charges, from which the opposition was trying to defend the accused, are serious charges," says BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: AAP party legal head Sanjeev Nasiar has said that ED custody had ended now after Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody till April 15.

"Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days. ED custody has ended now. Now we have the right to move the bail application...The government will run as per the provisions of the law. This is the first time that a serving Chief Minister is in judicial custody...," said Nasiar as quoted by news agency ANI.

She added, as reported by PTI, “ED’s investigation has concluded and the court hasn’t called him guilty so why have they kept him in jail? Their aim is only to keep him in jail during the Lok Sabha elections.”

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar has reacted after Delhi's Rouse Avenue court sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15.

"You are clearly getting to see how BJP is misusing the PMLA Act in our country, how BJP is misusing its agencies. They took ₹60 crores from Sarath Reddy and he became a government witness and the Chief Minister was arrested on the basis of his statement...There is a provision in the PMLA law that unless the ED says that the case should be closed or they have no objection to the bail, till then this process will continue...,'' said Kakkar as quoted by news agency ANI.

Check out these news stories related to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Enforcement Directorate has accused Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of "being involved in the entire conspiracy of Delhi liquor scam, in drafting and implementation of the policy, for favouring and benefiting the quid pro receiving kickbacks and eventually using part of proceeds of crime generated out of the scheduled offence in the election campaign for Goa Assembly elections," reported news agency PTI.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: On Monday, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said, "I do not expect anything from this (ED Custody) hearing... Why did they change the laws of ED? They had wrong intentions. If they have made someone a target from the political point of view, he cannot escape. He cannot get out of jail..."

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Delhi's Rouse Avenue court on Monday has sent Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Enforcement Directorate moves an application in Rouse Avenue court seeking direction to send Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody and states that further custodial interrogation, at the moment not required, reported news agency ANI.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju is appearing for ED.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: While being brought to Rouse Avenue Court on Monday, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "What the PM is doing is not good for the country."

Arvind Kejriwal has been produced in the court amid heavy security. On March 22, the trial court remanded Kejriwal to six days of ED custody, which was extended by further four days. His second ED custody ends today.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, arrives at Rouse Avenue court. Kejriwal is likely to be presented before the court as his ED custody ends today

Thousands of Aam Aadmi Party workers descended on the Ramlila Maidan here on Sunday to throw their lot behind their leader Arvind Kejriwal and lend strength to the party at the opposition INDIA bloc's rally.

A large number of these AAP supporters came to the INDIA bloc rally wearing yellow t-shirts with "Mai bhi Kejriwal" and "Modi ka sabse bada dar Kejriwal" printed on them.

Top INDIA bloc leaders made speeches from the dais in solidarity with jailed leaders, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren.

The leaders urged people to vote out the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls to "save democracy and the Constitution."

Hitting out at the Centre, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said on Sunday that Arvind Kejriwal, who is now in jail, is causing more trouble for his opponents than when he was free, adding that with Kejriwal's imprisonment, the fight has just started.

Rai added that the BJP thought jailing Kejriwal would end their problems, but it has actually started a bigger fight. Now, people all over the country are joining together to protect democracy, he added.

Rai's statement came after his participation in the INDIA bloc rally held on Sunday at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

Raghav Magunta Reddy is the son of Andhra Pradesh leader Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy. He was granted bail as he turned approver in the excise policy case. He was named as an accused in the case with the allegation that he had participated in the generation and transfer of the proceeds of crime.

Sreenivasulu Reddy and Raghav Magunta Reddy joined Chandrababu Naidu's TDP recently. Raghav is likely to get a ticket from the Ongole Lok Sabha seat -- as an NDA candidate as TDP is now a BJP ally in Andhra Pradesh along with Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party.

Kejriwal presented a short timeline of the case and named a few people whose statements during interrogation in the case changed. Arvind Kejriwal alleged in the court Sarath Reddy donated ₹55 crore to the BJP. "I have evidence that there is a racket. Money trail is established. Sarath Reddy donated ₹50 crore to the BJP after being arrested," Kejriwal said.

P Sarath Reddy, director of Aurobindo Pharma, turned approver in the Delhi liquor policy case in 2023. ED arrested the Hyderabad-based businessman in November 2022. Sarath Reddy was named as part of the liquor policy's south cartel which also had Telangana leader K Kavitha, now arrested.