The Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday sent Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody for 14 days till July 12 in connection to the liquor policy case. The development came after Kejriwal’s three-day CBI custody ended today.
The court’s decision came after hearing both the parties on Saturday afternoon. Notably, Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26.
The arrest order of Delhi Chief Minister was passed by Special Judge Amitabh Rawat on the application by CBI on Wednesday. “In view of the factum of the investigation leading to the arrest of the accused, the role ascribed to him and the necessity to confront the accused with the evidence in the present case of conspiracy, the present police remand application of the accused is allowed. However, it shall be for a period of three days from today. Accused Arvind Kejriwal will be produced on June 29, 2024 before 7 pm,” the judge had said in the order.
Key arguments
When the court asked Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhary, who was appearing for Kejriwal, about the grounds for opposing remand, he said, “The arrest and police custody orders were based the collection of evidence, which they had apparently collected in January.”
The court said the matter related to evidence was between the court and the investigation officer.
The court also said that according to the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), once the police custody was over, the court was bound to grant judicial remand.
Kejriwal’s lawyer then demanded that the CBI should disclose the evidence against the Delhi CM, based on which it was seeking a remand.
Kejriwal was arrested by the central agency in connection with the liquor policy case on Wednesday.
Earlier, the CBI had sought a five-day remand but was granted three, after claiming that Kejriwal’s custody was necessary to confront him with evidence and documents in the case.
The agency has also alleged that Kejriwal had implicated former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, attributing the idea of privatisation to him.
Meanwhile, AAP leaders and workers held a protest near the BJP’s headquarters on DDU Marg to demand the release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Security was beefed up near the BJP office ahead of the protests. The AAP leaders also held protests in Punjab and other states.
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