Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to appear before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Monday as his Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody ends on April 1. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to Delhi’s excise policy, and he has been in ED custody since then.
The hearing comes amidst Kejriwal’s petition in the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest, alleging infringement of his fundamental rights. The court has served a notice to the ED, with the hearing scheduled to continue on April 3.
During the previous court session, the ED cited “sufficient reasons” for Kejriwal’s continued custodial interrogation, including the need to confront him with collected material and recorded statements. Kejriwal, in his defense, emphasized the limited number of statements against him and questioned the necessity of arresting a sitting Chief Minister based on such grounds.
Amidst these legal proceedings, Kejriwal’s health concerns were raised by his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, who stated that he was not keeping well and was facing harassment. However, the Delhi High Court recently rejected a PIL seeking Kejriwal’s removal from the post of Delhi Chief Minister following his arrest.
Additionally, the US State Department’s comments on Kejriwal’s case drew objections from Indian officials, leading to the summoning of a senior US embassy official in New Delhi. The External Affairs Ministry labeled the remarks as unwarranted, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding Kejriwal’s legal battle.
