Protests grip nation as Kejriwal sent to 7-day ED custody

NT Correspondent

Kolkata: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is the "kingpin and key conspirator" in the excise policy-linked money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate claimed on Friday before a court which sent the AAP chief to seven-day custody of the probe agency, a day after his dramatic arrest.

The Enforcement Directorate(ED) also claimed before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court that 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 Delhi liquor scam.

It is for the first time during the ED's two-year probe into the case that the agency was claiming that the AAP was the "major beneficiary".

During hearing of arguments on ED's plea seeking Kejriwal's custody for 10 days, Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who was representing the chief minister, claimed that no incriminating material showing the AAP leader's involvement in crime was found despite over 200 raids in the excise policy case.

No material/evidence was found to show wrongdoing in the excise policy formulation or receipt of proceeds by Kejriwal, the lawyer said, alleging that the ED misused its power under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to unleash political vendetta.

Kejriwal received several crores of rupees as kickbacks from the 'South group' for formulating and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, the ED alleged. The policy was later scrapped.

No bar in law on arrested person continuing as CM: Expert

 Arvind Kejriwal can continue as Delhi chief minister post his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate with legal experts saying there is no bar under the law which prohibits an arrested person from holding the post.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan said there is no bar on a person continuing as chief minister once arrested.

INDIA bloc leaders rap EC's door, allege misuse of central agencies

A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, a delegation of leaders of the INDIA bloc parties approached the Election Commission of India alleging "unrelenting, blatant and illegal deployment of Central Agencies" by the ruling BJP to stifle opposition parties.