Two cases related to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail since March 21 in the liquor policy case, were heard in Rouse Avenue Court and Delhi High Court on Monday (April 1).
After Kejriwal’s remand ended, ED presented him in Kaveri Baweja’s court at Rouse Avenue Court. ASG Raju appeared on behalf of ED and Ramesh Gupta appeared on behalf of Kejriwal. ED said that Kejriwal is not cooperating with us. They are misleading us. On this the court asked how valid are these arguments for judicial custody? ASG Raju said that Kejriwal is not sharing his phone password. We will demand their ED custody later. This is our right. After this, the court sent Arvind Kejriwal to jail for 15 days in judicial custody. Kejriwal’s lawyer Ramesh Gupta told the court – Arvind Kejriwal should be given 3 books in jail – Geeta, Ramayana and Neerja Chaudhary’s book How Prime Ministers Decide. The second case was against Kejriwal’s release from jail against government orders. Surjit Singh Yadav had filed a PIL demanding a ban on giving government orders from jail. Hearing this, the bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora rejected the petition.
Kejriwal said- Whatever they are doing is not good for the country. Earlier, during his appearance in the court, Kejriwal told the media – What they are doing is not good for the country. During the hearing, Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal, Delhi Minister Atishi, Gopal Rai and Saurabh Bhardwaj were also present in the court.
Big Update in Liquor Policy Case
ED said in Rouse Avenue Court on Monday that Arvind Kejriwal had taken the name of Atishi Marlena during interrogation. When ED asked questions about Vijay Nair, Kejriwal said that Nair used to report to Atishi, not me. In fact, ED has alleged that Arvind Kejriwal is the leader in the liquor policy scam of Rs 100 crore and is directly involved. According to the ED case, the implementation of the liquor policy was part of a conspiracy through which some private companies were given 12% of the entire profit. This arrangement was not mentioned in the meeting of the Group of Ministers. ED claimed that this entire conspiracy was carried out by Vijay Nair and some other people in collaboration with South Group. Through this, wholesalers were given ‘Extraordinary Profit’. ED said that Vijay Nair used to work for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.
Kejriwal in 14 Days Judicial Custody After 11 Days Remand
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by ED on March 21. He was produced in Rouse Avenue Court on 22 March. The court sent Kejriwal on remand till March 28 i.e. for 7 days. After this, in the hearing on March 28, the court sent him on remand till April 1. Today he has been sent to judicial custody for 15th April i.e. 14 days.
Hearing on End of Remand in Rouse Avenue Court
ED: We demand judicial custody. Kejriwal is not giving us any support. They are misleading us. They told us that Vijay Nair does not report to them. Let’s do the pyrotechnics.
Court: How valid are these arguments for judicial custody?
ED: Kejriwal is not sharing his phone password. We will demand their ED custody later. This is our right.
The court sent Kejriwal to jail for 15 days in judicial custody.
Kejriwal: I should be given 3 books in jail. Bhagavad Geeta, Ramayana and Neerja Chaudhary’s book How Prime Ministers Decide.
Hearing in High Court on PIL Against Kejriwal Giving Government Orders from Jail
Court: Is Kejriwal issuing orders from behind bars?
Rahul Mehra on behalf of Kejriwal: Now what violation has been done? Every day this man files a new petition.
Court: We cannot stop anyone from filing petition.
Court to petitioner: If something is happening, bring it to the notice of the trial judge. ED will tell this to the trial judge and the judge will look into the matter.
Court: The District Judge will look into this case. Can take action on ED.
Court: You are right. There is no need for the petitioner. If something is going wrong then the trial court will take a decision on it. We direct the ED to submit a status report before the concerned judge. They will decide on this. We are not commenting on the petitioner’s appeal.
Petition in High Court on Government Order from Jail
Surjit Singh Yadav petitioned the High Court that Kejriwal is still issuing orders from jail in matters related to water and sewage. Yadav said that the court should direct ED not to provide typist, computer or printer to Kejriwal in jail. It should also be investigated how they are issuing orders and how these orders are reaching the ministers.
What Happened in the Court on March 28
On March 28, Kejriwal himself argued his case. He became the first sitting CM of the country to do so. Kejriwal had protested against his arrest and said that my name has appeared only four times in this case. Four statements were given and among them, the statement in which I was implicated was brought before the court. Are these 4 statements enough to arrest a Chief Minister?
In response to this, ED had said that the Chief Minister is not above the law. At the same time, while going to appear in the court, he was asked that the LG had said that the government will not run from jail. In response to this, Kejriwal said that this is a political conspiracy, the public will answer for it.
Kejriwal is Running the Government from Jail, Has Issued Two Orders
Kejriwal is the first sitting CM to be arrested. Earlier, former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was arrested by ED. Soren had gone to Raj Bhavan and resigned from ED custody. After his arrest, Kejriwal is running the government from jail itself. He has issued two orders from the jail.
Kejriwal had issued the first government order in the name of Water Ministry on March 23. He had instructed Water Minister Atishi to arrange tankers where there is water shortage in Delhi. At the time of his appearance in the court, he had said that he would not resign and would run the government from jail if necessary.
After this, Kejriwal issued another government order on 26 March. He instructed the Health Ministry that there should be no shortage of medicines for the poor in Mohalla Clinics. People should be provided free testing and medicines.
