CM Kejriwal sent to 14-day judicial custody in excise policy case

CM Kejriwal sent to 14-day judicial custody in excise policy case

New Delhi: A court here on Saturday sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam, saying his name has surfaced as one of the “main conspirators” and as the investigation is still in progress, his further custodial interrogation may be required.

Kejriwal was produced in the court by the CBI after the end of his three-day custodial interrogation, following which the central agency sought 14-day judicial custody while claiming that the AAP chief did not cooperate with the investigation and deliberately gave evasive replies.

The agency, in its remand plea, also expressed apprehension that he may influence witnesses and evidence already exposed before him during the custodial interrogation and also the potential witnesses who are yet to be examined.

Kejriwal, 55, was arrested by the CBI on June 26 from Tihar Jail, where he was in judicial custody in a connected money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate.

“Considering the fact that the conspiracy alleged against the accused (Kejriwal) involves a large number of persons who were involved in the formulation and implementation of excise policy and also the persons who acted as facilitators in the use of ill-gotten money, I find that there exist sufficient grounds for remanding the accused to judicial custody’,” Special Judge Sunena Sharma said.

“…The investigation is still in progress and may require custodial interrogation of the accused to confront him with more material likely to be collected during the course of the investigation. Accordingly, accused Arvind Kejriwal is remanded to judicial custody till July 12,” the judge added.

Noting the evidence before it, the court said that the investigation revealed that accused Vijay Nair, a close associate of Kejriwal, was the media-in-charge of the Aam Admi Party and he had contacted various liquor manufacturers and traders for demanding undue gratification for incorporation of provisions favourable to them in the excise policy for 2021-22.

It also noted that Kejriwal’s name surfaced as one of the “main conspirators of the criminal conspiracy” for various offences under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code.

“Four chargesheets in the case have already been filed against 17 accused persons including the persons of South group,” the court noted.

It said that the investigating officer (IO) had pointed out in the case diary that Kejriwal was not cooperative during his custodial interrogation, nor was he truthful in disclosing facts on many material aspects.