Excise policy: ED seeks extension of judicial custody for Arvind Kejriwal after his surrender on June 2

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday sought an extension of judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after his surrender on June 2 in an excise policy-linked money laundering case.

Kejriwal was arrested in excise policy-linked money laundering case on March 21 by the ED and is currently out on interim bail till June 1.

Kejriwal is currently out on interim bail granted by Supreme Court till June 1

The Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail on May 10 for campaigning in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The top court directed him to surrender on June 2.

The ED moved an application before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who is hearing cases related to alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-defunct Delhi Excise Policy, seeking 14-day judicial custody of Kejriwal when he surrenders on June 2, claiming that the period of judicial custody granted earlier by the court ends on Monday, news agency PTI reported.

Sufficient evidence against Kejriwal, Kavitha to put them on trial: ED

The ED made the submission in support of its supplementary charge sheets filed recently against Kejriwal and Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha.

The central agency told the special court that there is sufficient evidence against Kejriwal and co-accused Kavitha to put them on trial in the case.

The court will continue hearing arguments of the ED on the point of taking cognisance of the charge sheets filed by the ED recently on Tuesday.

ED recently filed supplementary chargesheet against Kejriwal, Kavitha

The ED on Friday filed a supplementary prosecution complaint (Chargesheet) before the special court naming Kejriwal, who is also the national convenor of AAM Aadmi Party (AAP), and his party AAP as an accused in excise policy-linked money laundering case.

Earlier, the central agency filed a supplementary chargesheet naming Kavitha and four others as accused in a money laundering case connected to alleged excise policy scam.

What are allegations against Kejriwal, Kavitha?

The ED has alleged that Kejriwal was the “kingpin and key conspirator” of the excise policy scam and Kavitha was “one of the kingpins, a key conspirator and beneficiary of the Delhi excise policy scam” and a key member of the “South Group”, which allegedly paid a bribe of Rs 100 crore to the ruling AAP in Delhi in exchange for a big share of liquor licences in Delhi.