On Wednesday, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until July 3. The court was reviewing Kejriwal’s petition for regular bail.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented evidence in court alleging that Kejriwal had solicited Rs 100 crore in kickbacks related to the now-revoked liquor policy case. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju informed the court that charges of money laundering had been formally acknowledged in the case.
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Raju pointed out that the rejection of bail for other co-accused, including former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia, demonstrated the court’s acceptance of the money laundering charges.
“The court’s acknowledgment of money laundering charges indicates a prima facie belief that such a case exists. The CBI investigation uncovered that Kejriwal demanded a bribe of Rs 100 crore. We had gathered evidence prior to his arrest,” said ASG Raju, representing the ED.
Kejriwal participated in the court proceedings via video conference. His lawyer, Vikram Chaudhary, argued that Kejriwal was not named in any chargesheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). “Kejriwal has not been listed as an accused in the FIR lodged by the CBI,” Chaudhary stated.
Chaudhary also referenced the Supreme Court’s May 10 order, which permitted Kejriwal to file a bail petition in the lower court.
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