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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will remain in ED custody for four more days. Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has extended the remand of CM Kejriwal till April 1. However, ED had asked for seven days’ remand.
Chief Minister Kejriwal was arrested by ED on March 21 in the alleged liquor scam of Delhi. The next day the court sent him on ED remand till March 28.
Before this, CM Kejriwal himself presented his arguments. Kejriwal said, ‘This case has been going on since two years. CBI had filed the case in August 2022. Then ED registered the case. I have been arrested. Neither have I been convicted by any court nor have any charges been framed.
During this, Kejriwal also mentioned the statements of the four accused arrested in the case. He said, ‘I just want to know, are these four statements enough to arrest a Chief Minister?’
But who are these four accused, whose statements Kejriwal mentioned? Kejriwal also claimed that statements were taken from him until he took his name.
Who are those 4 accused?
1. C. Arvind
– Who are: He has been PA to former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. ED had claimed that during interrogation, C. Arvind had told that a meeting was held at CM Kejriwal’s residence, in which Manish Sisodia had handed over the draft of liquor policy to him.
– Kejriwal’s claim: Many ministers come to my house. They exchange pleasantries with each other and give documents. Is this statement enough to arrest a CM?
Also read: Will President’s rule be imposed or will Kejriwal step down from the post of CM? New debate begins on Delhi LG’s statement
2. Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy
– Who are: YSR Congress MP from Ongole Lok Sabha seat of Andhra Pradesh. He had told the ED that after seeing the advertisement of the new liquor policy in the newspaper, he had met CM Kejriwal on March 16, 2021. Srinivasulu Reddy later became a government witness.
– Kejriwal’s claim: Statements after statements were being recorded until they were giving statements against me. This means ED’s aim was to implicate me.
3. Raghav Magunta
– Who are: He is the son of M. Srinivasulu Reddy. Raghav Magunta also became a government witness. According to the ED’s remand copy, Raghav had claimed that Kejriwal had called his father to Delhi and allegedly sought funding for the elections to be held in Punjab and Goa. He had asked for a fund of Rs 100 crore for the elections.
– Kejriwal’s claim: His five statements are recorded. He says what he said. After his father changes his statement, he is released. These six statements, in which he does not speak about me, are not taken on record.
4. Sarath Reddy
– Who are: He is the son of PV Ramaprasad Reddy, founder of Aurobindo Pharma. Hyderabad businessman Sarath Reddy had also become a government witness last year. Sarath Reddy is also part of the same ‘South Group’, which allegedly gave a bribe of Rs 100 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party.
– Kejriwal’s claim: Sarath Reddy donated Rs 55 crore to BJP. I have evidence that this racket is going on. After being arrested, he donated Rs 50 crore to BJP.
Also read: Chief Secretary’s report, CBI-ED case… ABCD of Delhi’s liquor scam, in which everyone from Sisodia to Kejriwal got trapped.
What else did Kejriwal say?
During the hearing in the court, CM Kejriwal said, ‘I only want to know this. Are these four statements enough to arrest a sitting CM? One lakh pages which are in our favor in the ED office are not brought on record.
Kejriwal further said, ‘The Rs 100 crore they are saying is actually nowhere. This real liquor scam starts after the ED investigation.
He said that the aim of ED is to crush the Aam Aadmi Party. Kejriwal said that we agree to keep us on remand for as long as the ED wants.
How did Kejriwal get entangled in all this?
Both CBI and ED are investigating this alleged liquor scam of Delhi. However, Kejriwal’s name is not in the FIRs of both the agencies. But his name is in the charge sheet. Kejriwal’s name has also been taken in the remand copy of the accused.
It is alleged that when Delhi’s excise policy was being prepared, many accused were in contact with Kejriwal. Many accused have allegedly testified against Kejriwal.
ED says that several meetings took place between YSR Congress MP Manguta Srinivasulu Reddy and Kejriwal. CM Kejriwal had welcomed Reddy’s entry into the liquor business of Delhi. During interrogation, Buchibabu and accused Arun Pillai have revealed that they were working closely with Kejriwal and Sisodia on excise policy.
Besides, accused Vijay Nair had also got Kejriwal and arrested accused Sameer Mahendru talking through video call. During this, Kejriwal had told Sameer that Vijay is his man and he should trust him.
Also read: CM Kejriwal will have to resign or will he be able to run the government from jail? Know- what the law says
Were arrested on March 21
Kejriwal is also embroiled in the alleged liquor scam of Delhi. ED had issued 9 summons to Kejriwal to investigate his role in this alleged scam. ED had sent the first summons on November 2 last year. But Kejriwal did not appear on any summons.
On March 21, Kejriwal had appealed to the High Court for relief from arrest. The High Court had also rejected this. After this, at 7 pm on the same day, the ED team reached Kejriwal’s residence with the 10th summons.
The ED team had interrogated Kejriwal for two hours. After this he was arrested. Kejriwal is the first Chief Minister who has been arrested while in office. The very next day, Rouse Avenue Court sent Kejriwal on ED remand till March 28. Now Kejriwal will remain in ED custody till April 1.
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