E-Paper
Setback for Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi high court denies urgent listing of plea
Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Delhi high court, challenging his arrest and the order of remand granted by the trial court on March 22.
The Delhi high court has denied an urgent listing of the plea filed by chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest and custody in the case. Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday and was sent to its custody till March 28, had sought an urgent hearing in the matter, which will now be listed on reopening on Wednesday.(Also Read: Kejriwal's arrest: Atishi's vehicle stopped by Delhi Police; AAP says 'Mr Modi, shoot us')
Kejriwal's arrest came hours after the Delhi high court on Thursday refused to grant him interim protection from any coercive action by the ED in the money laundering probe. On Friday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief was produced before special judge Kaveri Baweja, who permitted his custody to the federal agency after ED stressed this was imperative to unravel the complexities of the alleged acts of money laundering and corruption in the case.
“The accused is hereby remanded to the custody of ED till 28.03.2024 for the purposes of his detailed and sustained interrogation with respect to his role and to unearth the remaining proceeds of crime and for confronting him with data retrieved from digital devices and material seized during investigation,” said the judge in her order. (Also Read: ‘Rolls dice…in diverse ways’: Smriti Irani slams Rahul Gandhi on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest)
In his plea, Kejriwal contended that his arrest and remand were illegal and that he was entitled to be released from custody immediately, reported PTI.
The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 which was later scrapped. Top AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are in judicial custody in the case.
Meanwhile, the AAP leaders have asserted that the Delhi chief minister will run the government from jail. Punjab chief minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann told PTI that permission will be sought from the court to set up an office in jail to run the Delhi government. (Also Read: Money of liquor case accused found in BJP's account, arrest Nadda: AAP's big ‘electoral bond’ charge)
Legal experts have suggested that the law does not prohibit anyone from heading the government from prison but Arvind Kejriwal may face various difficulties in discharging his duties from there.
"Kejriwal's arrest does not change his status as Chief Minister," constitutional expert PDT Achary said, adding, "whether he can perform his function as Chief Minister smoothly is subjected to a jail manual."
"If a jail manual permits such things, then it is ok; otherwise, he has to get permission from the court and then the court has to give a specific direction to jail officials," he said.
