Setback for AAP: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sent to ED custody till March 28 in liquor case

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Delhi court on Friday sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the Enforcement Directorate's custody till March 28, a day after his arrest in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court said that Kejriwal will be produced before the court on March 28 at 2 p.m.

During the proceedings, ED told a special PMLA court that Arvind Kejriwal is kingpin and key conspirator of Delhi liquor scam in collusion with his ministers, AAP leaders.

Arvind Kejriwal «took advantage» of being the chief minister of Delhi to facilitate money laundering by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is a «major beneficiary» of the proceeds of crimes generated in the alleged liquor scam case, the ED claimed.

«Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of NCT of Delhi is the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi Excise scam in collusion with ministers of Delhi government, AAP leaders and other persons,» the federal agency informed a special PMLA court while seeking his custody.

It claimed in its remand papers that «Arvind Kejriwal was involved in the conspiracy of formulation of the excise policy 2021-22 to favour certain persons and also involved in the demanding of kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange of favours granting in the said policy.»

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate, sought a 10-day remand of Kejriwal in the trial court. The investigating agency informed the court that Kejriwal was the key conspirators in the liquor scam, in