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New Delhi: On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha’s custody has been extended by 14 more days or till May 7 in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.
The court also extended the judicial custody of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) alleged fund manager for the Goa elections, Chanpreet Singh, till May 7. The federal probe agency has alleged that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal to frame the now-defunct excise policy, which resulted in undue advantage being given to the AAP in exchange for bribes.
The special judge for CBI and ED matters, Kaveri Baweja, extended their custody after they were produced before the court through video conference on the expiry of their remand. Delhi CM Kejriwal, arrested by the agency on March 21 after the high court refused to grant him interim protection from coercive action, has also challenged the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act with respect to arrest, questioning and grant of bail.
The court’s decision comes a day after Kerjiwal’s plea seeking daily consultation with his family doctor via video call was rejected. In the plea, Kejriwal has raised several issues, including whether a political party is covered under the anti-money laundering law. It alleged that the arbitrary procedure under PMLA was being used to create a non-level playing field for the general elections to “skew the electoral process in the favour of the ruling party at the Centre”.
Meanwhile, Kavitha was arrested by the central agencies on March 15 in connection with the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy case. The CBI is probing alleged corruption in the formulation and execution of the AAP government’s excise policy, while the ED is investigating the money laundering aspect.
