Delhi Excise Case: Kejriwal Sent to Judicial Custody Until June 5

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to judicial custody until June 5, 2024, following his surrender to Tihar Jail as per Supreme Court directions. This decision was made by Duty Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal at the Rouse Avenue Court on Sunday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had applied for Kejriwal’s judicial custody, which was pending as he had been on interim bail. After his surrender, the court extended his custody by 14 days, responding to an ED application filed on May 20.

Kejriwal's legal team, led by advocates Rishikesh Kumar and Vivek Jain, opposed the custody extension, arguing that his arrest has been challenged before the Supreme Court, with an order on his petition still pending. Kejriwal had previously sought a 7-day interim bail citing medical reasons, but the court reserved its decision until June 5.

The ED contested Kejriwal's interim bail plea, questioning its maintainability and alleging that Kejriwal was traveling instead of undergoing a medical test. The court also noted that his regular bail plea is scheduled for a hearing on June 7.

ASG SV Raju, representing the ED, argued against bail, citing Kejriwal's active campaigning in Punjab despite claiming medical issues. The Supreme Court had earlier rejected Kejriwal's plea for an extension of interim bail, instructing him to pursue regular bail in the trial court.

On May 28, the Rouse Avenue Court reserved its order on the cognizance of the ED’s supplementary chargesheet against Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), setting June 4 for the decision.

Kejriwal was initially granted interim bail on May 10 by the Supreme Court, which restricted him from visiting the Chief Minister's Office and the Delhi Secretariat. His arrest on March 21 was part of the ED's investigation into alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 Delhi excise policy.

Kejriwal has claimed his arrest was politically motivated, particularly following the announcement of the general elections. The Delhi High Court had previously dismissed his plea for release, noting his non-cooperation with the ED’s summons.

The ongoing judicial proceedings continue to unfold, with significant dates set for June, impacting both Kejriwal's legal standing and the political landscape of Delhi.