It's like a nail. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP and the entire I.N.D.I alliance has been nailed.
Kejriwal's plea against arrest dismissed...
Delhi High Court has dismissed Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest in the liquor policy case, observing that the Delhi Chief Minister "conspired with others" and was "actively involved in using the proceeds of crime".
Following the high court order, AAP boss - whom the Enforcement Directorate has dubbed the 'kingpin' of the liquor policy case - will remain in Tihar Jail till April 15, as per Delhi Rouse Avenue court's previous order.
While announcing its verdict earlier today, the high court observed that Arvind Kejriwal "conspired with others" and was "actively involved in using proceeds of crime", as per the material shared by the Enforcement Directorate. The high court also noted that Kejriwal was involved in a personal capacity in the formulation of the now-scrapped liquor policy and demanding kickbacks.
Additionally, as the national convenor of AAP, Kejriwal participated in activities linked to the scandal, the court noted.
"ED was able to place enough material in the shape of 'Hawala' material, and statements of approvers that he was given money in cash for Goa elections. Money was sent in cash for the Goa elections. The arrest is not in contravention of law, remand cannot be termed illegal," Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said while delivering the verdict.
The court also ruled that Kejriwal's challenge to the timing of the arrest before the Lok Sabha elections in the absence of any mala fide on the part of the federal probe agency is "not sustainable".
It also pointed out that the Delhi Chief Minister has been arrested in a money laundering case and the court has to examine his arrest and remand as per the law, irrespective of the timing of the elections.
"The contention that Kejriwal could have been questioned through VC is to be rejected. It is not for the accused to decide how the investigation is to be done. It cannot be as per the convenience of the Accused.
This court won't set two sets of laws- One for the commons and the other for the public servants. There cannot be any specific privilege for any one including the Chief Minister," the high court said further.
Reacting to the high court verdict, AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said that his party will move Supreme Court tomorrow.
"Whatever has happened till now in the so-called excise policy case - it can be said that the entire case is not about money laundering but it is the country's biggest political conspiracy. ED or CBI could not recover a single illegal rupee," Bhardwaj said.
The Delhi High Court went on to add that the evidence presented before it by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) shows that Kejriwal received proceeds from the crime.
The court further said that political considerations cannot be brought before a court of law and that it is a case between Arvind Kejriwal and the ED and not between him and the Centre.
Kejriwal will have the right to cross examine the witnesses. The said person will have to answer it at that stage.
Material collected by ED reveals that Arvind Kejriwal conspired and was involved in formulation of excise policy and used proceeds of crime.
Kejriwal allegedly involved in personal capacity in formulation of policy and demanding kickbacks and secondly in the capacity of national convenor of AAP.
The matter before this court is not a conflict between the central government and Arvind Kejriwal. It is a case between him and the ED.
Arvind Kejriwal's arrest and remand has to be examined as per law and not as per timing of elections and that there cannot be any specific privilege for anyone, including the Chief Minister.
ends
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