Arvind Kejriwal Arrest LIVE Updates: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Arvind Kejriwal, was today produced before the Rouse Avenue Court, following the conclusion of his custodial remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This development comes in the wake of Kejriwal’s arrest in connection with an alleged excise policy-linked money laundering case. While the ED sought seven days remand of the Delhi CM, the court sent Kejriwal to four-day ED custody.
On the other hand, the Delhi High Court also heard a public interest litigation (PIL) today, which sought Kejriwal’s removal from the post of Chief Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi. The hearing was presided over by Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora. The court rejected the PIL saying that there is no leagl bar in the case and Kejriwal can continue to function as the Delhi CM. In another case, the Delhi High Court has also issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate in response to a petition filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest and the ED remand granted by the trial court.
Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of the embattled Chief Minister, asserted that her husband’s health is not well and he is being harrased by the ED.
CM Kejriwal’s arrest and court proceedings LIVE here:
4.43 pm: ED while seeking remand stated that Data in one mobile phone (belonging to the arrestee’s wife) has been extracted and is being analyzed. However, data from the other 4 digital devices seized during search at Arvind Kejriwal’s premises on 21.03.2024 (belonging to the arrestee himself) are yet to be extracted as the arrestee has sought time to provide password/login credentials after consulting with his lawyers.
3.50 pm: The Rouse Avenue Court sent the Delhi CM to four-day ED remand. Kejriwal’s ED remand will now end on April 1.
3.30 pm: Arvind Kejriwal said in court that the ED has only two missions – two crush him and finish Aam Aadmi Party. Kejriwal said that his name is mentioned only four times in the documents of the ED and CBI. Kejriwal told the court that he was arrested on behalf of some statements that are not enough to arrest even a thief.
02:43: The ASG SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), stated that Arvind Kejriwal’s statements have been documented, and he provided evasive responses. ASG remarked that Kejriwal is intentionally refusing to cooperate with their investigation. He informed the Rouse Avenue court that during custody, Arvind Kejriwal did not divulge the passwords, resulting in the lack of access to digital data. The ED further said that, “A CM is not above the law.” According to Zee News TV report, The court has reserved the order regarding Enforcement Directorate’s plea seeking 7 days extension of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s custody remand.
02:38: It is claimed that there was a scam worth Rs 100 crore… Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal asserted before the Rouse Avenue Court during his ED remand hearing that Justice Sanjiv Khanna stated the money trail has not been identified yet… Kejriwal submits that the motive of the ED is to dismantle the Aam Aadmi Party.
02:31: CM Kejriwal says in his defence,”The case was initiated by the CBI two years back…The ED submitted a report spanning 25 thousand pages…Numerous ministers have visited my residence over time… I question why the arrest is solely based on verbal statements.” He is speaking in the Rouse Avenue Court.
02:24: “He is not proven guilty in any court,” Arvind Kejriwal says in Rouse Avenue Court.
02:19: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says, upon arrival at the Rouse Avenue court, “It is a political conspiracy and the people will give an answer to it.”
02:14: ED has requested an extension of seven additional days for the custody of the Delhi CM by remand, says he needs to be confronted with some people linked with excise policy case.
02:05: Arvind Kejriwal has reached Rouse Avenue Court, and the court hearing has begun. His wife Sunita Kejriwal is also present in the proceeding.
01:45: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal being brought out of ED office; to be taken to Rouse Avenue Court.
VIDEO | “This is a political conspiracy, the public will give a befitting reply,” says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) in response to a media query on Delhi L-G VK Saxena’s ‘government cannot run from jail’ remark.
Kejriwal has been brought to Rouse Avenue Court in… pic.twitter.com/q7n2zYuHKb
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 28, 2024
01:30: Delhi High Court rejects PIL seeking removal of Arvind Kejriwal from the post of Chief Minister of Delhi.
01:00 PM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be produced before Rouse Avenue Court at 2 pm today on the expiry of his six days of ED custody.