- The ED has petitioned for additional time to formulate a response to CM Kejriwal’s challenge against his arrest in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged excise policy scam.
- The agency’s counsel citing the substantial volume of the petition that was served only on Tuesday, urged the court to grant a three-week extension to allow the ED to articulate its position effectively.
- Responding to this request, senior advocate AM Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, vehemently criticized the ED’s plea for an extension, characterizing it as a deliberate delay tactic.
- Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of the Delhi CM, announced that her husband would make significant revelations concerning the Delhi excise policy case in court.
- Sunita Kejriwal underscored the ED’s extensive investigative efforts over the past two years, which, she contended, had failed to yield substantive findings.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has petitioned the Delhi High Court for additional time to formulate a response to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s challenge against his arrest in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged excise policy scam. The agency’s counsel, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, citing the substantial volume of the petition, which was served only on Tuesday, urged the court to grant a three-week extension to allow the ED to articulate its position effectively.
Responding to this request, senior advocate AM Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, vehemently criticized the ED’s plea for an extension, characterizing it as a deliberate delay tactic. Singhvi emphasized the urgency of the matter, asserting that critical issues concerning the legality of Kejriwal’s arrest demand immediate adjudication by the high court.
Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), found himself in the eye of a legal storm when he was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded to ED custody until March 28 by a Delhi court. Despite Kejriwal’s petition filed last week, an urgent hearing was reportedly denied due to the closure of the high court for the Holi festival.
Adding a layer of intrigue to the ongoing legal saga, Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of the Delhi Chief Minister, announced in her second press conference on Wednesday that her husband would make significant revelations concerning the Delhi excise policy case in court. She declared that Kejriwal would disclose the whereabouts of the alleged scam’s money and furnish evidence to substantiate his claims.
Sunita Kejriwal underscored the ED’s extensive investigative efforts over the past two years, which, she contended, had failed to yield substantive findings. She clarified that only a nominal amount of Rs 70 thousand was discovered during the raid at their residence. Kejriwal, she asserted, was committed to unraveling the truth behind this amount and providing compelling evidence to support his assertions before the court.
“The ED has conducted over 250 raids in connection with the so-called liquor scam, yet they have found no evidence of wrongdoing. Arvind Kejriwal has pledged to reveal everything in court on March 28, including the whereabouts of the alleged scam’s money and supporting evidence,” she declared.
The unfolding legal drama highlights the escalating tensions between Kejriwal and the ED, with both parties presenting divergent narratives regarding the purported excise policy scam. As the high-stakes case unfolds, the Delhi High Court faces the formidable task of adjudicating on the merits of Kejriwal’s plea and the ED’s response, amidst allegations of procedural delays and strategic maneuvers that threaten to prolong the legal proceedings.
(With inputs from agencies)
