NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday questioned his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi excise policy case and asked “are 4 statements made by different people enough to arrest a sitting chief minister?” Kejriwal, who made submissions in the court himself, said that the ED was trying to create a smokescreen of AAP being corrupt. The court extended Kejriwal’s ED custody till April 1
The Enforcement Directorate countered Kejriwal’s claims and called him the key conspirator in the case.The probe agency, which got Kejriwal’s custody for 4 more days, said the AAP chief needs to be confronted with some people linked with excise policy case. It told the court that Delhi chief minister was giving evasive replies and was not disclosing passwords of his digital devices.
Arguing his case in the court, Kejriwal said: “I was arrested, but no court has proven me guilty yet. CBI filed 31,000 pages and ED has filed 25,000 pages related to this matter. Even if you read them together, I would like to ask why have I been arrested? My name came to light only in four statements of four people.”
“Are these four statements made by different people sufficient to arrest a sitting chief minister?” he asked. Kejriwal referred to the statements of C Arvind, Raghav Magunta and his father and Sharath Reddy.
“It’s being alleged that 100 crore was in liquor scam. Justice Sanjiv Khanna said that the money trail is not yet traced,” Kejriwal said and added, “The real liquor scam begins post the ED investigation. The motive of the ED is to crush the Aam Aadmi Party.”
The Delhi chief minister then raised the issue of electoral bonds in the court and claimed the approver in the case had donated Rs 55 crore to the BJP.
Kejriwal alleged that Sarath Chandra Reddy, who is one of the co-accused-turned-approvers in the case, donated Rs 55 crore to the BJP. “I have evidence of this. Money trail is established as he donated the funds after being arrested,” the chief minister said. Reddy is the director of Aurobindo Pharma Limited.
The Delhi chief minister claimed that people are being turned approver in the case and are being forced to change their statements. He alleged a political conspiracy behind his arrest. “You may keep me in remand as long as you like…I am ready for investigation,” Kejriwal said.
Earlier, before entering the court, Kejriwal responded to Delhi Lt Governor’s remark that the city government will not be run from jail and said “people will give a reply”.
Kejriwal was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court after the end of his custodial remand.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and subsequently remanded in the agency’s custody till March 28 by a court here.
ED questions AAP’s Goa unit chief
Meanwhile, ED on Thursday began questioning Aam Aadmi Party’s Goa unit president Amit Palekar and three others in connection with a money laundering case. The ED had summoned Palekar, AAP leader Ramrao Wagh and two others – Dattaprasad Naik and Ashok Naik – for questioning in a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Dattaprasad and Ashok are leaders of the Bhandari community in Goa.
Although details of the case are yet to be known, sources said they were called for questioning in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
The Enforcement Directorate countered Kejriwal’s claims and called him the key conspirator in the case.The probe agency, which got Kejriwal’s custody for 4 more days, said the AAP chief needs to be confronted with some people linked with excise policy case. It told the court that Delhi chief minister was giving evasive replies and was not disclosing passwords of his digital devices.
Arguing his case in the court, Kejriwal said: “I was arrested, but no court has proven me guilty yet. CBI filed 31,000 pages and ED has filed 25,000 pages related to this matter. Even if you read them together, I would like to ask why have I been arrested? My name came to light only in four statements of four people.”
“Are these four statements made by different people sufficient to arrest a sitting chief minister?” he asked. Kejriwal referred to the statements of C Arvind, Raghav Magunta and his father and Sharath Reddy.
“It’s being alleged that 100 crore was in liquor scam. Justice Sanjiv Khanna said that the money trail is not yet traced,” Kejriwal said and added, “The real liquor scam begins post the ED investigation. The motive of the ED is to crush the Aam Aadmi Party.”
The Delhi chief minister then raised the issue of electoral bonds in the court and claimed the approver in the case had donated Rs 55 crore to the BJP.
Kejriwal alleged that Sarath Chandra Reddy, who is one of the co-accused-turned-approvers in the case, donated Rs 55 crore to the BJP. “I have evidence of this. Money trail is established as he donated the funds after being arrested,” the chief minister said. Reddy is the director of Aurobindo Pharma Limited.
The Delhi chief minister claimed that people are being turned approver in the case and are being forced to change their statements. He alleged a political conspiracy behind his arrest. “You may keep me in remand as long as you like…I am ready for investigation,” Kejriwal said.
Earlier, before entering the court, Kejriwal responded to Delhi Lt Governor’s remark that the city government will not be run from jail and said “people will give a reply”.
Kejriwal was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court after the end of his custodial remand.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and subsequently remanded in the agency’s custody till March 28 by a court here.
ED questions AAP’s Goa unit chief
Meanwhile, ED on Thursday began questioning Aam Aadmi Party’s Goa unit president Amit Palekar and three others in connection with a money laundering case. The ED had summoned Palekar, AAP leader Ramrao Wagh and two others – Dattaprasad Naik and Ashok Naik – for questioning in a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Dattaprasad and Ashok are leaders of the Bhandari community in Goa.
Although details of the case are yet to be known, sources said they were called for questioning in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
