Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for three more days till April 1, in connections with Delhi Liiquor Policy case. Kejriwal was produced before the trial court in Delhi as his six days custody that the court had granted on Friday expired today. The matter was heard by a special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja.
The Delhi Chief Minister appeared in the court in person and called the ED's case against an attempt to frame him
Kejriwal said that Sarath Reddy donated 50 crores to BJP through electoral bonds after being arrested. "I have the proof that this is a racket to frame me."
Here's a quick recap of Kejriwal's case in courts so far:
On March 14, Delhi Chief Minister moved the sessions court challenging summons issued to him by a magisterial court on ED's complaints alleging non-compliance of the summons issued to him in the now scrapped liquor policy case. Kejriwal has skipped 9 summons by ED so far. ED had raised the complaint in a magisterial court. After giving Kejriwal time to respond the Additional chief metropolitan magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra asked him to appear before it on March 16.
On March 15, Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail by a Delhi Court in ED's complaint for skipping summons. The court then instructed him to furnish a bond of Rs 15,000. The next hearing in the case will be held on April 1.
On March 20, The Delhi High Court heard Kejriwal's petition challenging ED summons and sought reply from the ED. ASG SV Raju appearing for the ED told the court that Kejriwal's pleas are not maintainable. During the hearing, the bench asked Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal as to why he is not appearing before the agency for questioning. Singhvi said that they apprehend that ED will arrest him and Kejriwal will appear if he is given protection.
"You are citizen of the country, the summons is by name only. Why don't you appear," the bench asked. Singhvi however, told the court that AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were also arrested by the agency in similar manner.
On March 21, the Delhi HC refused to grant protection from arrest to the Delhi CM. Kejriwal had filed a plea seeking protection from coercive action in Delhi's liquor policy-linked money-laundering case. On the same night, Kejriwal was arrested by the ED at night.
On March 22, the Delhi CM was remanded to six day ED custody by the special judge in Delhi's rouse avenue court till March 28. ED had sought 10 days of remand for the chief minister.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal also approched Supreme Court against his arrest. However, he later withdrew the challenge and went to the trial court. The trial court remanded him to six days of ED custody.
Kejriwal then approached Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing, however, due to the holi vacation, his case is listed for March 27 (a day before his six days custody ends.)
On March 26, the Delhi HC heard his plea challenging his arrest and ED remand, as well as his plea for interim relief of immidiate release. ASG SV Raju appearing for ED seeks time to file reply to "bulky petitions" filed by Kejriwal against his arrest. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the high court refused the prayer for immidiate release and issued notice to the ED in both his petitons.
The Delhi High Court listed the case for final disposal on April 3 and grants ED time to file reply by April 2.
On March 28, the trial court extended Kejriwal's custody till April 1.