Arvind Kejriwal (Photo: PTI)
The Rouse Avenue Court has extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till September 3 in connection with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
The court has also reserved its decision on the CBI’s fourth supplementary chargesheet, which names Kejriwal and five other accused. The next hearing will take place on September 3.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kejriwal remains in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in view of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and money laundering related to the excise policy. These probes are being conducted by both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
CBI says Goa candidates were promised Rs 40 lakh each
On Tuesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation informed the Rouse Avenue Court that it has evidence to prove that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal promised Rs 90 lakh each to candidates in 40 constituencies in Goa. The agency also submitted evidence of the financial involvement of the South Group.
“Durgesh Pathak was the person responsible for supervising the Goa elections. All election expenses were made on his instructions. He is an MP from Delhi. There is also evidence that the funds were coming from the South Group,” the federal agency said, according to news agency ANI.
These revelations came during the CBI’s arguments on the supplementary chargesheet in the excise policy case against Kejriwal and others.
The CBI also filed an application seeking a 14-day extension of Kejriwal’s remand. The agency noted that another accused, Vinod Chauhan, had been in touch with the personal assistant of K Kavitha, who had earlier been granted bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case led by the ED.
Kejriwal’s bail plea will be heard in the Supreme Court on September 5
The Supreme Court has adjourned its hearing on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea in the excise policy case till September 5, following a request by the CBI for more time to file his affidavit.
Kejriwal has filed two petitions – one challenging the denial of his bail and another challenging his arrest by the CBI.
In its affidavit, the CBI claimed that all major decisions regarding the now-revoked excise policy were taken under Kejriwal’s direction, in coordination with former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
AAP accuses CBI of acting under BJP influence
Meanwhile, the AAP accused the BJP and the CBI of conspiring to keep Arvind Kejriwal behind bars.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Manish Sisodia claimed that the CBI was delaying court proceedings while leaking information to the media to influence public perception, stating, “The CBI is simply a puppet under the control of the BJP to keep Arvind Kejriwal in jail.”
In response, the BJP challenged the AAP to move the Supreme Court if it found the CBI to be “misleading and biased”. The CBI is yet to respond to these claims.
[With inputs from agencies]
First published: August 27, 2024 | 17:21 IS
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