The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case related to the alleged liquor scam case. Justice Swarnkant Sharma, after listening to the senior lawyer appearing for the AAP leader and the agency, said that he is going to reserve the decision. Let us tell you that the AAP national convenor, who was arrested by the ED on March 21, questioned the ‘timing’ of his arrest and said that it is a violation of the basic structure of the Constitution including free and fair elections and equal opportunity. Kejriwal, who is currently in judicial custody, was represented by senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi.
Opposing Kejriwal’s petition, advocate ASG Raju, appearing for ED, argued that if a common man has committed a crime then he will have to go behind the bars, but you are the Chief Minister, so you cannot be arrested? You will loot the country, but no one can touch you because elections are coming? You say your arrest will violate infrastructure? What kind of infrastructure is this?
I pass the triple test, I am no longer effective and… Manish Sisodia gave such arguments for bail.
This is the double attitude of Arvind Kejriwal: ED
ED lawyer Raju further said that take the case of a terrorist who is also a politician. He blows up the army vehicle and says I want to contest elections so you can’t touch me? What kind of argument is this? He further said that there are statements of witnesses which show that outsiders were involved from the formulation of the liquor policy till its implementation. ED said that Kejriwal himself had said in the lower court that if the court wants, it can send him on remand, but here he himself is challenging the order of sending him on remand. This is the double attitude of Arvind Kejriwal.
Kejriwal is defending himself on the basis of some parts of the statements of some people.
ED lawyer Raju said that behind this petition there is a bail petition. This is nothing but a bail petition to avoid Section 45 PMLA. He said that even if the High Court cancels the first order of sending on remand and the arrest in it, in such a situation the two subsequent orders of sending on remand of the lower court will remain intact, because they have not been challenged here. Raju said that money laundering has taken place and the court has also taken cognizance. The accused have also accepted, but Kejriwal is trying to defend himself by basing it on some parts of the statements of some people.
ED remains happy like this… Why did Kavita mention doctor and apple during interim bail?
Those who did not pay bribe asked to surrender licenses: ED
ED says that the investigation in Kejriwal’s case is still in the initial stage but arguments are being given as if the investigation has been completed and the charge sheet has been filed. ASG said that Vijay Nair was working from the office of Kailash Gehlot. Gehlot’s house/office was right next to the CM’s house. Therefore he could easily go to that house. ASG Raju said that those who did not pay bribe were asked to surrender their licenses, so that those who paid bribe could be facilitated.ASG Raju said that those who did not pay bribe were asked to surrender their licenses, So that those who give bribes can be facilitated. ASG said that IndoSpirits was blacklisted, hence the files were moved forward to get it a license. Despite allegations of cartelization, the firm was given a wholesale license. The complainant was forced to withdraw the complaint.
ED said, if the dead body is not found then does the murder case not proceed?
Raju said that what kind of argument is there that the money was not received? The money was spent in the Goa elections. It is said that if I did something, I did not get anything from my house, but if you gave it to someone else, then how will I get it from your house. He said that this argument that the money was not seized from him is absurd. If you have given it to someone else, then where will you get it at your home? If you have spent money in Goa or sent it abroad, where will you get it from? But does this prove your innocence? There is enough primary evidence of money laundering. We have enough evidence. ED said that all this happened long before the elections. Now they are saying that elections are going to be held. Profits were earned by manipulating the liquor policy and bribes were taken, this happened long ago. Talk of elections is being done only for show. It is not that ED has become active yet. He said that if the dead body is not found then does the murder case not proceed? People have been punished in many such cases.
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Tags: Arvind kejriwal, Delhi liquor scam
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 3, 2024, 19:47 IST