The CBI stated that taking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal into custody is essential for the “interest of investigation and justice” in the Delhi liquor policy case.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to jail for 14 days under judicial custody in the Delhi liquor policy case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI stated that Mr. Kejriwal’s custody is necessary for the “interest of investigation and justice.”
Earlier today, special judge Sunena Sharma had reserved the order after Mr. Kejriwal was brought to court following the end of his three-day CBI custody.
In its remand application, the CBI alleged that Mr. Kejriwal did not cooperate and provided evasive answers.
“Upon being confronted with the evidence, he did not give a proper and truthful explanation regarding the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5 percent to 12 percent under the new excise policy of Delhi 2021-22, without any study or justification,” the CBI stated.
The CBI also pointed out that Mr. Kejriwal could not explain why, during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19, the cabinet approval for the revised excise policy was hurriedly obtained through circulation within one day. This occurred while the accused individuals from the South Group were in Delhi, holding meetings with his close associate Vijay Nair.
The central agency further alleged that Mr. Kejriwal evaded questions regarding meetings between his associate Vijay Nair and stakeholders in the Delhi liquor business. Mr. Kejriwal was also unable to provide a proper explanation for his meetings with Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Arjun Pandey, and Mootha Gautham, all of whom are accused in the case.
“He, being a prominent politician and Chief Minister of Delhi, is a very influential person. There are credible reasons to believe that he may influence the witnesses and evidence already exposed to him during the custodial interrogation, as well as potential witnesses who are yet to be examined. He may tamper with the evidence to be further collected and hinder the ongoing investigation,” the CBI application claimed.
Mr. Kejriwal was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 on money laundering allegations related to the framing of the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped after the Lieutenant Governor raised concerns. The ED has alleged that the money Mr. Kejriwal received from liquor sellers was used to fund the party’s campaign in Goa, as he is the convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Mr. Kejriwal and the AAP have consistently maintained that the Centre is misusing its agencies to harass the opposition with false cases.
