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Arvind Kejriwal Slams BJP After Arrest, Vows to Resume Work in Delhi

September 26, 2024, 3:47 pm

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the ruling BJP government on Thursday, accusing them of derailing the Delhi government after his arrest by the Directorate of Enforcement in connection with the excise policy case. Kejriwal, alongside Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and AAP leader Manish Sisodia, inspected road conditions near Delhi University and assured the public that all ongoing issues will soon be addressed.

Kejriwal Questions Motives Behind His Arrest

Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal expressed shock over the reasoning behind his arrest, claiming the BJP intended to halt the Delhi government’s work.

“I asked them, what did they gain from arresting me? They said the Delhi government had been derailed, and all work had stopped. Was my arrest just to shut down the Delhi government and increase the hardships for the public?” Kejriwal questioned.

During the inspection of the damaged roads near Delhi University, Kejriwal assured the public that all problems in the national capital would soon be fixed.

“I am here, and the work will start again. This road was damaged due to a pipeline project, but CM Atishi and I have discussed fixing it quickly,” he said.

Alleges BJP’s Agenda to Defame AAP

Kejriwal also accused the BJP of trying to defame the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and halt the government’s public service initiatives.

“Their agenda was to shut down the government and defame AAP, but we won’t let the public’s work stop,” Kejriwal declared.

AAP Leader Dilip Pandey Supports Kejriwal

AAP leader Dilip Pandey echoed Kejriwal’s sentiments, accusing the BJP of trying to stop AAP’s work by arresting party leaders. Pandey lauded Kejriwal’s commitment to public service, stating that even while imprisoned, Kejriwal remained “in action mode.”

“The BJP tried to stop the work in Delhi, but they failed. Now, we have renewed conviction, and our work will speed up,” Pandey added.

Pandey also emphasized that the road repairs and public works promised by the Delhi government would be completed despite BJP’s attempts to hinder AAP’s efforts.

Supreme Court Grants Bail To Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

September 13, 2024, 7:41 am

The Supreme Court today granted the bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Supreme Court has deemed the CBI’s arrest of Kejriwal unjustified. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stated that further detention by the CBI on the same charges is no longer justifiable. He emphasized the presumption of innocence, noting that bail should be the norm and imprisonment an exception. He stressed that the pre-trial process should not amount to a punishment.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan announced that the criminal appeal filed by Arvind Kejriwal is granted, overturning the High Court’s decision. Consequently, the Delhi Chief Minister will be released on bail.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan expressed serious concerns about the conditions restricting Arvind Kejriwal from entering the secretariat or signing files. However, he refrained from commenting on these conditions due to judicial restraint, as they pertain to a separate ED case.

Supreme Court grants bail to Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case registered by CBI in the alleged excise policy scam.

Supreme Court says prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty. pic.twitter.com/6LoZkISNO4

— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2024

Kejriwal was seeking bail and contesting his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the excise policy case.

Key details about the ruling:

Kejriwal has filed two petitions: one challenging the denial of bail and the other contesting his CBI arrest in the corruption case.

The AAP leader was arrested by the CBI on June 26.

He has approached the Supreme Court, contesting the Delhi High Court’s August 5 ruling, which upheld his arrest in the corruption case. The High Court noted that sufficient evidence was gathered following Kejriwal’s arrest, justifying the action.

The Delhi High Court also granted Kejriwal the option to approach a trial court for bail.

The case revolves around alleged corruption in the framing and execution of the now-scrapped excise policy for the 2021-22 period.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also filed a money laundering case tied to this alleged “scam.” Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 regarding this matter.

Both the CBI and ED claim that irregularities in modifying the excise policy resulted in undue benefits to license holders.

On July 12, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the money laundering case. Additionally, the court referred three critical questions about the “necessity of arrest” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger bench for a detailed review.

During a hearing on September 5, Kejriwal opposed the CBI’s argument that he should have first approached the trial court for bail in the corruption case.

The CBI’s representative, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, argued that the Supreme Court had directed Kejriwal to approach the trial court first in the money laundering case as well.

Delhi: Security Tightens at AAP HQ Before Protest Over Kejriwal’s Arrest

June 29, 2024, 12:54 pm

Security measures outside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters in Delhi have been significantly strengthened in anticipation of a planned protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, according to reports. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj criticized the coordinated efforts between national agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), suggesting it reflects the central government’s intent to keep Kejriwal in jail.

“The coordination between ED and CBI shows that the Central Government wants to ensure that Arvind Kejriwal stays in jail…We will raise our voice against it in the whole nation,” Bhardwaj stated.

AAP had earlier announced a nationwide protest against Kejriwal’s arrest, following a decision made during a meeting at the party headquarters led by AAP’s National General Secretary (Organisation) Sandeep Pathak. The gathering, attended by top AAP leaders including MPs, MLAs, and councillors, focused on condemning what they allege is the BJP government’s misuse of investigative agencies to target Kejriwal.

Pathak accused the BJP-led central government of orchestrating a political vendetta, stating, “The BJP’s central government is misusing all the central investigation agencies for its political vendetta…Their aim is not to investigate any case nor do they have anything to do with the law.”

He added, “All AAP leaders expressed confidence that the entire public of Delhi is with CM Arvind Kejriwal and we all will fight this battle against injustice along with the people of Delhi.”

AAP contends that Kejriwal was granted bail by a trial court in the liquor case but the ED subsequently obtained a stay on his bail from the High Court. The party alleges that Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI, after two years of inactivity, was timed to prevent him from securing bail from the Supreme Court.

Previously, Kejriwal was called in by the CBI as a witness in April 2023 and was not implicated as an accused for over a year. AAP claims the CBI’s actions lack evidence and are politically motivated, aimed at undermining Kejriwal and the AAP.

Delhi Liquor Policy Case: Arvind Kejriwal’s CBI Custody Ends, Set to Appear Before Delhi Court Today

June 29, 2024, 9:48 am

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to appear in court today as his three-day custody comes to an end. Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on Wednesday in connection with the liquor policy case and will appear before the Rouse Avenue court at 7 pm.

The CBI had requested five days of remand but was granted three, arguing that Kejriwal’s custody was necessary to confront him with evidence and documents. The agency also claimed that Kejriwal had implicated former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, attributing the privatization idea to him.

Kejriwal’s lawyer, Vikram Chaudhary, opposed the CBI’s plea for custody, calling it an abuse of power and requesting access to documents.

During the hearing, Kejriwal addressed the court, asserting his innocence and that of other AAP leaders, including Sisodia. He accused the CBI of manipulating media headlines to falsely portray his involvement and denied blaming Sisodia.

Kejriwal is currently in Tihar jail in connection with an alleged money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The Delhi liquor policy case involves alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy, including modifications, undue favours to licensees, and the extension of L-1 licenses without prior approval. The CBI is probing corruption charges, while the ED is investigating the alleged money laundering aspect.

In July 2022, Delhi’s then Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the AAP government’s 2021-22 excise policy, citing “deliberate and gross procedural lapses,” according to a report by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar.

Following the Home Ministry’s directions for an inquiry, the CBI registered a case in August 2022 against Manish Sisodia, three Delhi government officials, ten liquor licensees, and others.

The CBI’s FIR states that the accused were involved in recommending and making decisions about the 2021-22 excise policy without the approval of the competent authority, intending to extend undue favours to the licensees post-tender.

Delhi Excise Policy Case: HC Likely To Announce Verdict on Arvind Kejriwal’s bail today

June 25, 2024, 8:48 am

The Delhi High Court is expected to announce its decision on Tuesday regarding the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) request to stay the trial court’s bail order for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. The verdict is scheduled for 2:30 pm. A vacation bench led by Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain had reserved the decision on June 21 after the ED contested the trial court’s ruling, which has been temporarily suspended pending the high court’s ruling.

On Monday, the ED opposed Kejriwal’s bail plea in the liquor policy case, calling the trial court’s order “illegal and perverse.” In a written response to the Delhi High Court, Kejriwal argued that discretionary bail orders cannot be overturned “merely on perceptions and fanciful imagination of the prosecution.” Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain’s vacation bench is set to deliver its verdict on the ED’s plea to stay the bail order at 2:30 pm on Tuesday.

The court had reserved its order on June 21 regarding the ED’s plea for a stay on the bail order. In its written submission to the high court, the ED claimed that the trial court, which granted Kejriwal bail on June 20, failed to consider any relevant material demonstrating the “neck-deep involvement” of the AAP chief in the money laundering case. The ED asserted that the AAP was the primary beneficiary of the proceeds from the alleged excise policy “scam” and accused the judge of making a “fatal error” by ignoring Kejriwal’s vicarious liability under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In its arguments to the Delhi High Court on Monday, the ED challenged the relief granted to Kejriwal, describing the trial court’s decision as illegal and perverse. The agency urged the high court to stay and overturn the trial court’s order, stating, “The impugned order passed by the trial court deserves to be stayed and set aside as the vacation judge has returned perverse findings in almost every paragraph of its order on both facts and law after admittedly not examining the material placed on record by the prosecution.” The ED also highlighted that the vacation judge overlooked new evidence against Kejriwal collected after 2023, including statements from 13 Angariyas, Goa AAP workers, and AAP office bearers.

Arvind Kejriwal’s Bail Paused, Wife Reacts: ‘Dictatorship On The Rise’

June 21, 2024, 3:55 pm

Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, strongly criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for challenging the bail that was granted to him in connection with the money laundering case related to the now-canceled Delhi excise policy.

The Enforcement Directorate has requested the Delhi High Court to overturn the bail granted to Arvind Kejriwal by the trial court. The Delhi High Court has agreed to expedite the hearing of the ED’s plea.

Sunita Kejriwal responded to the situation by highlighting that the ED had gone to the Delhi High Court to oppose bail even before the order was officially posted. She accused the government and its central agencies of treating her husband as if he were a wanted terrorist.

Sunita Kejriwal said, “It has become like this… as if Arvind Kejriwal is the most wanted terrorist… Dictatorship has increased in the country.”

She added, “The decision is yet to come in the High Court… We hope that the High Court will do justice.”

AAP leader Sanjay Singh also condemned the Delhi High Court’s decision to pause the bail order and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ridiculing the justice system.

Taking to X, Singh said, “Look at the hooliganism of the Modi Government, the trial court’s order has not come yet, even the copy of the order is not available, then which order has Modi’s ED gone to challenge in High Court? What is happening in this country? Why are you making fun of the justice system Modiji, the whole country is watching you?”

मोदी सरकार की गुंडागर्दी देखिए अभी ट्रायल कोर्ट का आदेश ही नही आया आदेश की कॉपी भी नही मिली तो मोदी की ED हाईकोर्ट में किस आदेश को चुनौती देने पहुँच गई?
क्या हो रहा है इस देश में?
न्यायव्यवस्था का मज़ाक़ क्यों बना रहे हो मोदी जी पूरा देश आपको देख रहा है?

— Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) June 21, 2024

The Delhi High Court accepted the ED’s request for an immediate hearing, as senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhari, appearing for Arvind Kejriwal, pressed for prioritizing the case and argued that it should be dealt with on an expedited basis.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who spoke on behalf of the ED in the High Court, requested a halt to the trial court’s decision, arguing that the agency was not adequately allowed to present its case.

Watch: Ex Ministers Satyavathi Rathod and Sabitha Indra Reddy Visit BRS Leader K Kavitha in Tihar Jail

June 18, 2024, 10:47 am

Former Telangana Ministers Satyavathi Rathod and Sabitha Indra Reddy visited Tihar Jail in Delhi to meet BRS leader K Kavitha. Kavitha was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 15 and was in CBI custody until March 23. On April 11, she was arrested again by the CBI and taken to Tihar Jail. A Delhi court had earlier reserved its decision on her interim bail plea, filed for her son’s upcoming exam, for April 9.

#WATCH | Delhi: Members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, Satyavathi Rathod & Sabitha Indra Reddy arrived at Tihar Jail to meet BRS leader K Kavitha.

The Rouse Avenue court had extended the judicial custody of BRS leader K Kavitha till June 21. pic.twitter.com/Hy67NMiSVo

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2024

Before her arrest, Kavitha had been summoned multiple times for questioning but missed at least two of these summons. Last year, she was questioned three times, with her statements recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

During her recent custody, CBI officials questioned Kavitha about WhatsApp chats from co-accused Buchi Babu’s phone and documents related to a land deal. The investigation revealed that ₹100 crores were allegedly paid to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as kickbacks to influence the excise policy in favor of a liquor lobby.

Kavitha is the third high-profile politician arrested in this case, following AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. On March 21, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal became the first sitting chief minister to be arrested in connection with this case.

The Enforcement Directorate has accused Kavitha of being part of the so-called ‘South Group,’ which allegedly paid ₹100 crore in kickbacks to AAP leaders for nine retail zones under the now-defunct policy. Other individuals named in the ‘South Group’ include Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSCRCP) MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, his son Raghav Magunta, Aurobindo Group promoter Sarath Reddy, and Delhi-based businessman Sameer Mahendru.

Delhi liquor scam: Delhi court extends Arvind Kejriwal’s ED custody till April 1

March 28, 2024, 5:16 pm

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday granted a four-day extension to the Enforcement Directorate’s remand of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in connection with the liquor scam. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21, and on March 22, the ED requested a 10-day remand.

Judge Kaveri Baweja, after considering arguments from both sides, initially ordered a six-day remand for Kejriwal. Following the completion of this initial remand period, ED prioduced Kejriwal before Judge Baweja at Rouse Avenue Court on March 28. The Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, informed the court that certain facts require confirmation by Kejriwal, who is allegedly uncooperative.

Furthermore, digital data verification is pending, and individuals from Goa have been summoned for interrogation alongside Kejriwal. Consequently, the ED sought a seven-day extension of remand. After hearing arguments court extended Kejriwal remand for Five Days till 1st of April.

Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal requested a moment to address the court. The court gave him five minutes. Kejriwal told the court that his name has appeared in only four cases. He questioned whether a statement was sufficient ground for the arrest of a Chief Minister, citing a statement alleging that he provided documents to Sisodia in the presence of others.

Kejriwal said that it is frequent visits of MLAs to his residence, how to keep remember, when and which documents were given. How can this be explained? Kejriwal cited the statement of witness Raghav Magunta, and said that his testimony was manipulated by putting pressure on him.

Kejriwal said that the ED did not find statements favorable to me in the 25,000 pages, only those statements which were against me. The bail granted to Magunta pointed out the inconsistencies in his statements. Similarly, Kejriwal mentioned the statements of Sharad Reddy.

Kejriwal said Justice Sanjeev Khanna’s comment on the alleged bribe of Rs 100 crore in which he has considered the case of giving bribe as suspicious. He accused the ED of conducting a biased investigation with the aim of defaming the Aam Aadmi Party and collecting money through intimidation. Kejriwal accused the BJP of accepting donations worth Rs 55 crore from Sharad Reddy and said the ED’s aim was to disrupt his party.

Addressing his legal representatives, Kejriwal requested to submit the electoral bond documents in the court. He announced his readiness for custodial investigation by ED. Advocate SV Raju, representing the ED, opposed Kejriwal’s claims and insisted that these should be taken into consideration during the trial.

K Kavitha’s custody extended till March 26, she claims “arrest illegal will fight in court”

March 23, 2024, 3:52 pm

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has extended BRS leader K. Kavitha’s ED remand until March 26. As she was brought before the court on Saturday, she alleged that her arrest is illegal and stated that she intends to contest it in court.

Kavitha told reporters, “This is an illegal arrest. We are going to fight it out in court. It is a political case, a fabricated case, a false case. We are fighting it out. There is nothing new, they are asking the same things again and again.”

“Why so many arrests during election time. political arrest. ECI should intervene,” she added after the verdict was read out.

The BRS leader was produced before the Special Judge in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case, as her ED custody ended on that day. The ED had applied for an extension of K. Kavitha’s remand for another five days.

The national probe agency, while seeking a further five days’ remand of the BRS leader, informed the court that searches are underway at her nephew Mekha Saran’s residence.

Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court declined to entertain K Kavitha’s bail plea in the Delhi excise policy case and directed her to approach the trial court, stating that the bail application, if filed, should be decided expeditiously.

A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela M Trivedi remarked that it has to follow a uniform policy for all and cannot allow people to approach the top court directly for bail as they are political figures.

The court said that Kavitha could move the trial court or use any other remedy for bail. It directed that if a bail application is filed, it should be decided expeditiously.

K Kavitha, through her advocate P Mohith Rao, moved the Supreme Court on Monday challenging her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case relating to Delhi excise policy irregularities.

Kavitha, who was arrested by an ED team on March 15, is in ED’s custodial interrogation for seven days. She was arrested after a search operation conducted at her residence in Hyderabad on the same day.

In her petition, the BRS leader has also challenged her remand and stated that the remand order does not adhere to Article 141, which states that the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India. K Kavitha in her plea also challenged section 19 (1) of the PMLA Act.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate claimed that Kavitha allegedly conspired with the top leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia to get favors in the Delhi Excise policy formulation and implementation, and she was involved in paying Rs 100 crore to the AAP leaders in exchange for these favors.

ED’s claims came three days after it arrested Kavitha, MLC of Telangana Legislative Council, in the alleged case of Delhi Liquor Policy Scam.

Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was remanded to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate for seven days, till March 28, a day after he was arrested by the probe agency in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are in judicial custody in the excise policy case. Sisodia, who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning. On October 5, ED arrested Sanjay Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member.

Delhi Liquor Scam, List of Top Leaders Arrested by ED

March 22, 2024, 12:50 pm

The liquor excise policy of the AAP government in 2021 underwent several changes, including the discontinuation of state-run liquor stores and the issuance of operating licenses to private entities. The legal drinking age was lowered from 25 to 21 years old, and specific requirements for liquor brand registration were established, such as cost and sales figures outside of Delhi. Additionally, the government proposed raising the yearly license price for alcohol vending from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 75 lakh.

The implementation of the policy was marred by allegations of corruption and favoritism during the licensing process, leading to a probe by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and a request for a CBI investigation. Amid mounting criticism, the government announced the scrapping of the excise policy.

A total of 16 people have been arrested till now in the Delhi Liquor Case including the Aam Aadmi Party leader and Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal. Here is the detailed list:

1. Arvind Kejriwal

Kejriwal’s name has been mentioned several times in the ED’s charge sheets, which allege that he was in contact with the accused to create the excise policy, resulting in undue benefits for them. They allegedly paid kickbacks to the AAP in return. Kejriwal was arrested during a search of his residence on March 21, as he failed to secure interim protection from arrest in the liquor policy case from the Delhi High Court.

2. K Kavitha

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha was arrested recently after raids by the ED and the Income Tax department on her Hyderabad residence.

3. Sanjay Singh

AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was arrested on October 4, 2023, following an extensive questioning session at his Delhi home, a crucial development in the case.

4. Manish Sisodia

Former deputy chief minister of Delhi and close aide to Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, was initially arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023. He was arrested again by the ED on March 9, 2023, while in Tihar jail awaiting his bail hearing.

5. Vijay Nair

AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair was arrested by the CBI in September 2022 in connection with the liquor scam. The ED also charged him in November of the same year.

6. Satyendar Jain

Satyendar Jain, an AAP leader and former Delhi minister, was the first person arrested under the Delhi excise policy by the ED in May 2022. After being granted interim bail on medical grounds following a year-long imprisonment in Tihar jail, he returned to jail in March 2024.

Other people arrested:

Several other individuals were arrested in connection with the case, includes:

Raghav Magunta, a member of the South Group who has now become a witness.
Gautam Malhotra, son of a former MLA from Akali Dal.
Amit Arora, owner of Vaddi Retail.
P Sharad Reddy, promoter of Arvindo Group who has also turned witness.
Abhishek Bonpalli, another member of the South Group.
Buchibabu Gorantla, former MLA of Kavitha.
Binoy Babu, regional head of Record India.
Rajesh Joshi, director of Chauriyet Productions.

Detained Individuals:

Other notable individuals detained in the investigation include restaurateur Dinesh Arora, who was charged by the CBI in 2022, and Sameer Mahendru, the managing director of M/s Indospirit Group, who was charged by the ED in September of the same year.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Delhi Ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi, were detained by Delhi police during a party protest against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest on Thursday.