Tag: KEJRIWAL

Categories
India News Politics

Kejriwal Faces Charges as CBI Continues Excise Policy Probe

Section 41-A CrPC read with Section 41-A (3), does not mandate a blanket ban on arrest against whom there is a reasonable suspicion of commission of a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment of up to 7 years…reports Asian Lite News

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday filed a chargesheet against Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal and others in Rouse Avenue Court in connection with the excise policy case.

Recently, the Delhi High Court reserved the order on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Excise policy case. The Court also reserved the order on the issue of Kejriwal’s plea for interim bail.

During the hearing, CBI lawyer DP Singh submitted that Kejriwal’s petitions stated that contrary to the averments of the petitioner, there exists no question of re-appreciation of the material at the stage of the investigation, more specifically since the investigation includes any or all proceedings for the collection of evidence, which is ongoing.

The proceedings at this stage are distinct from the opinion formed by the investigating officer while filing a final report under Section 173 CrPC. There is ample material available on record to justify the necessity of arresting the Petitioner. The Petitioner was also confronted with the said material during his examination.

The CBI further submitted that it is the sole domain of the investigating agency to both interrogate and arrest the accused, after complying with the requirements of the law.

With the Petitioner remaining evasive during his interrogation on June 25, 2024, the CBI deemed the custodial interrogation of the petition necessary, more specifically since it is more elicitation-oriented and an important right in favour of the investigating agency to unearth the truth.

Section 41-A CrPC read with Section 41-A (3), does not mandate a blanket ban on arrest against whom there is a reasonable suspicion of commission of a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment of up to 7 years.

The law on the subject mandates that the investigating officer in such cases should be satisfied with the necessity of arrest under the conditions noted in the sub-clauses (a) to (e) of Section 41 (1) (b) (ii) and should record reasons for the same, the CBI told the Delhi High Court.

However, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and argued that the most striking feature of this case is that it is an insurance arrest.

“I have three release orders in my savour, those three orders are under much much much more stringent provisions. The Apex Court has recently decided to grant him bail indefinitely. My client also got a bail order in his favour in the ED case from the trial court, which was later stayed by the Delhi High Court. The CBI FIR is August 17, 2022. I am not named in that. In April, I was summoned under Sec. 160 CrPC as a witness,” Singhvi said.

Singhvi further submitted that Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI was unnecessary.

“The dates of the case cry out for themselves. The trial court gave me regular bail under PMLA on June 20 and after four days, the CBI took the order to question me in judicial custody and arrested me on June 26. I never got a copy of the application. No notice was given, and the order was passed. Even I was not heard,” he said.

He further submitted in Delhi HC that recently Imran Khan was released but was arrested again in another case. It can’t happen in our country.

Singhvi further submitted before the Delhi HC that the trial court allowed the CBI’s application regarding the issuance of production warrants despite the probe agency interrogating him on June 25 for almost 3 hours.

The Delhi Chief Minister had approached the Delhi High Court, stating that applicant Kejriwal is the National Convenor of a National Political Party (Aam Aadmi Party) and the sitting Chief Minister of Delhi, who is being subjected to gross persecution and harassment for wholly malafide and extraneous considerations, is knocking at the doors of this Court seeking regular bail in this case.

He has recently already approached challenging his wholly non-est and illegal arrest as well as patently routine remand orders passed by the Trial Court. The said writ petition had come up for hearing before this Court on July 2, when this Court issued notice and listed the matter for hearing on July 17. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Kejriwal sent to CBI remand days after getting bail

Categories
India News Politics

Court sends Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12

Delhi Environment Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Rai called it a “conspiracy” of the Bharatiya Janata Party government and said that AAP ministers and CM have been jailed in “fake cases.”…reports Asian Lite News

The Delhi Court sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Central Investigation Bureau’s (CBI) judicial custody until July 12 in connection with the excise policy case after which Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the court decision, whereas Aam Aadmi Party called it a “conspiracy” of the BJP.

The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Saturday sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the excise policy case.

Reacting to the development, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that we heard CBI’s arguments and they repeated the same imaginary stories which have no relation to the truth adding that such stories do not stand in court.

“Arvind Kejriwal was first kept in police custody and today he has been taken into judicial custody in a false case. The court’s order is not out as of now,” Singh said.

Delhi Environment Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Rai called it a “conspiracy” of the Bharatiya Janata Party government and said that AAP ministers and CM have been jailed in “fake cases.”

“Our ministers and CM have been jailed in fake cases. This is a conspiracy of the BJP government. The facts have also come out. The Trial Court gave bail to the CM. The Trial Court said clearly that there was no proof against the CM. The ED went to the High Court without taking the order copy. The bail was stayed without a hearing… This is a campaign to destroy the Delhi government and the AAP… We hope to get optimistic results from the Court soon,” Gopal Rai said.

Advocate Rishikesh Kumar said, “Arvind Kejriwal was produced before the court because his three-day CBI custody came to an end today. CBI did not seek further police custody, they sought a judicial remand which was opposed by us saying they have no grounds to seek a judicial remand… Now Arvind Kejriwal will be produced before the court on 12 July. We had moved an application that he be provided with his diabetes medicines, test kits, and home-cooked food, and the court has agreed to our demands… On Monday or Tuesday, we will move a bail application.”

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a nationwide protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy case.

In Delhi, the AAP protested in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters, in which several party MPs, MLAs, councillors, and workers participated.

Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Virendraa Sachdeva welcomed the decision of a Delhi court to send Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody in connection with the excise policy case till June 12.

The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Saturday sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the excise policy case.

“The law is taking its course. If they have committed a crime, then they have to be ready to face the consequences. The investigation agencies have presented the evidence in the Court. They should welcome the Court’s decision. When the second wave of Covid was going on, should the Delhi government have made the liquor policy or come to the rescue of the people?” he asked.

He further said that the municipal corporation should come to the people’s rescue.

“Today also, the municipal corporation should come to the people’s rescue. The drains have not been cleaned, there is corruption in it. They have nothing to do with the problems of Delhi. They have to understand that they are in jail at the Court’s order,” he said.

ALSO READ-Kejriwal sent to CBI remand days after getting bail

Categories
India News Politics

Kejriwal gets bail in Delhi excise policy ED case

The court said that it would record the submissions of ED’s special counsel Zoheb Hossain…reports Asian Lite News

The Rouse Avenue court on Thursday granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s regular bail in a money laundering case related to Delhi Excise Policy. Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the bail application.

Vacation judge Nyay Bindu granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal on furnishing bail bond of Rs One Lakh. The bail bond will be furnished tomorrow. A detailed order will be uploaded tomorrow.

The court refused the request of ED to postpone the process of filing of bail bond for 48 hours. ED requested the postponement so that they could avail their legal remedy to challenge the order at the High Court. The Court has also said that the bail order has not been stayed.

The court said that it would record the submissions of ED’s special counsel Zoheb Hossain.

While opposing the bail application, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju submitted that bribe money was sent for Goa election by Hawala transaction and Arvind Kejriwal was in touch with Angadiya (Hawala dealers). The bribe money was sent by Vinod Chauhan and it was received by Chanpreet Singh Rayat who was handling the election of AAP in Goa.

Meanwhile, leaders of opposition parties called it “long overdue.” In a post on X, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said, “Congratulations. Kejriwal gets bail. Long overdue. From the prosecutions standpoint now that elections are over no need to keep him in jail! The justice delivery system has been unfair !”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav referred it as the “victory of truth.”

“The bail of Delhi’s popular Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal ji is another victory of truth. The power and unity of the ‘India Alliance’ is going to liberate the people of India from the painful rule of BJP. Very soon India will form a coalition government,” the SP chief said.

Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the statements by the Directorate of Enforcement are based on lies.

“At such a time, Arvind Kejriwal’s release from jail will strengthen democracy. This is good news for the country and the people of Delhi. ED’s statements so far are based on lies. This is a baseless fake case created to implicate Kejriwal ji. #ArvindKejriwal #AAP #Delhi,” he said in a post on X.

Congress leader Manish Tiwari, in a post on X, said, “Gratifying to note that @ArvindKejriwal Ji has been granted bail by the Rouse Avenue court. Hope he is able to resume his responsibilities at the earliest.”

Punjab Minister and AAP leader Kuldeep Dhaliwal said, “Truth has won, Indian democracy has won and the forces that save democracy have won. Today the court has done great justice in the fake case filed by the BJP against Arvind Kejriwal. Today the entire countrymen have won.”

ALSO READ-Kejriwal confident of AAP winning 13 seats in Punjab

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Kejriwal guns for Modi over arrests of AAP leaders

The AAP supremo also claimed that the BJP was trying to implicate party leaders in false cases, as he asked the ruling party at the Centre to come clean on whether a penny was recovered in the numerous raids (on party leaders) conducted earlier…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the explosive political fallout of the arrest of his former aide Bibhav Kumar in connection with the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MLA Swati Maliwal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday came out all guns blazing at the BJP-led Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Invoking the arrest of several of his party leaders, the CM, who himself is out on interim bail in connection with a money laundering case linked to the now-junked Delhi excise policy, questioned if the people elected a prime minister or a ‘thanedar’ (police officer).

Addressing a public rally at Bhajanpura, ahead of polling for the Lok Sabha in the national capital on May 25, the AAP national convenor said, “It is up to you (people). If you vote for the ‘Lotus’ symbol (of the BJP), I will have to go back to jail. But if you push the ‘Hand’ symbol (of ally Congress), I may not have to go to jail. They (BJP) have unleashed ‘gundagardi’ (hooliganism) on the Opposition.”

Bringing up the arrests of party heavyweights Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Satyendar Jain in separate cases, the CM said, “They put Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh in jail. Now, they have also sent my (former) PA behind bars. They are also planning to send Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi to jail. Did we elect a prime minister or a thanedar?”

The AAP supremo also claimed that the BJP was trying to implicate party leaders in false cases, as he asked the ruling party at the Centre to come clean on whether a penny was recovered in the numerous raids (on party leaders) conducted earlier.

“They are trying to implicate us in a false and fictitious scam, which they claim to be worth Rs 100 crore. I want to ask them: you conducted over 500 raids. Did you even recover a penny? Where is the 100 crore? Did it vanish into thin air?” Kejriwal asked.

The AAP convenor also held a roadshow in Bhajanpura, which is part of the North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, on Tuesday evening. The seat is being contested by the Congress’s Kanhaiya Kumar, who is pitted against BJP heavyweight and sitting MP Manoj Tiwari.

Kanhaiya also featured in the roadshow led by the AAP chief.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the AAP claimed that the BJP-NDA at the Centre was characterised by ‘incompetence and misgovernance’, adding that the people of Delhi will teach the ruling party a ‘hard lesson’ in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

The ruling party in the national capital also hit back at Union Minister Amit Shah for labelling the AAP as a party mired in corruption.

Earlier, the Union Home Minister launched a scathing attack on the CM, saying he had never seen a man, who took as many ‘U-turns’ as Arvind Kejriwal.

Accusing Kejriwal of scams worth crores, the Union Home Minister said, “I have never seen a more shameless person in my life (than Kejriwal). After Lalu-ji was sentenced (in the fodder case), he stepped down as (Bihar) CM. However, Kejriwal continues to cling on to his chair.”(ANI)

‘Modi govt marred by incompetence’

Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre is marred by incompetence and misgovernance, adding that the people of Delhi will teach the ruling party a hard lesson in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The ruling party in Delhi hit out at Union Minister Amit Shah after he said that AAP is a corrupt party.

“It is ironic that the most corrupt party in Indian history (BJP) is calling others corrupt. If any of the leaders of Aam Aadmi Party were corrupt, they would’ve joined the BJP and come out clean from its washing machine. All investigations, all cases would’ve been dropped like it happened in the case of Ajit Pawar, Prafful Patel, Chagan Bhujbal and countless others,” AAP said in a statement.

“Unlike the BJP jumlas, Arvind Kejriwal ji has fulfilled all the guarantees, whether it is free electricity, water, education, health care, pilgrimage for the elderly etc & has now guaranteed 1000 rupees to each woman every month,” it added.

AAP further said that “Home Minister Amit shah has always duped the public with false promises”.

“Modi government is marred by incompetence and mis-governance with demonetization, massive reduction in manufacturing sector leading to large scale closure of MSMEs, causing extreme distress to businessmen, bulldozing of properties, the list is endless. The people of Delhi will teach BJP a hard lesson this Lok Sabha elections,” the party said.

Earlier, Union Home Minister on Monday launched scathing attacks on Aam Aadmi Party and said that he has never seen a man who took U-turns like Arvind Kejriwal in politics.

Addressing a public meeting in support of BJP South-Delhi candidate Ramvir Singh Bidhuri today, Shah said, “I have never seen a man who took U-turns like Kejriwal in politics. He left his job and formed an NGO and took an oath that he would not enter politics. In November 2022, he formed the AAP party by sidelining Anna Hazare.”

Further, the Home Minister said that Kejriwal has committed so many scams worth crores of rupees in Delhi.

“I have never seen a shameless person like him in my life. When Lalu ji went to jail, he resigned. When Jayalalitha also went to jail, she resigned. But Kejriwal is a leader who is still sitting on the CM chair,” he said. Voting in Delhi for all seven Lok Sabha seats will be held in a single phase on May 25. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Kejriwal: BJP using ‘Operation Jhadoo’ to crush AAP

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

SC questions timing of Kejriwal’s arrest

The bench stressed the importance of “Life and liberty are exceedingly important. You can’t deny that,” as they questioned Solicitor General S V Raju…reports Asian Lite News

In a courtroom drama that unfolded on Tuesday, the Supreme Court directed its focus towards the Enforcement Directorate (ED), seeking clarification on the timing behind the arrest of Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal. The fiery exchange came amidst a plea lodged by Kejriwal against his arrest in the Delhi excise policy case, with the apex court asserting that liberty is “very exceedingly important”.

“Liberty is very exceedingly important, you can’t deny that. The last question is with regard to the timing of the arrest, which they (Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer) have pointed out, the timing of the arrest, soon before the general elections,” Justice Sanjiv Khanna told ASG SV Raju.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, stirring controversy and raising eyebrows across political circles. The ongoing legal saga saw the Delhi High Court recently upholding Kejriwal’s arrest, citing his alleged non-cooperation with the investigative proceedings.

Prior to yesterday’s courtroom observation, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, alleged that MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy (MSR) was pressured into levelling accusations against Kejriwal, purportedly in exchange for bail for his son, Raghav.

“MSR’s sudden change of heart, under duress, led to a false narrative implicating Kejriwal. The sequence of events raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation,” Singhvi said.

Singhvi further highlighted the peculiar timeline of events, juxtaposing Kejriwal’s arrest with the earlier detention of his aide, Vijay Nair, in November 2022.

The ED has accused AAP leaders of receiving Rs 100 crore as kickbacks from a group of politicians and businessmen, called South Group, for making the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy favourable to their business interests.

On Monday, Singhvi reiterated the fundamental principle of justice, arguing that Kejriwal’s alleged disregard for summonses did not warrant his deprivation of liberty.  “You (ED) have to demonstrate the necessity of arrest based on material available with the investigating agency,” he said.

“ED’s power to arrest is not an obligation to arrest. There must be a reason to believe, there has to be some new material or a link that connects Kejriwal directly or something. They arrested him (Kejriwal) after the model code of conduct was in place. He was neither accused nor suspect till March 2024,” he added.

Court dismisses Sisodia’s bail plea

Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday dismissed the second bail petition of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in both CBI and ED cases on the Delhi excise policy case.

He had sought regular bail in ED and CBI cases on the grounds of delay in trial. This is the second time when his bail plea has been dismissed by the court. His first bail plea in the CBI case was rejected on March 31, 2023. On April 28, the trial court rejected his bail application in the ED case.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the bail plea of Manish Sisodia after considering the submissions and material on record. The detailed bail order is yet to be uploaded.

Sisodia has been in custody since 26 February 2023 after arrest by the CBI. Thereafter, he was arrested by the CBI. On April 20, the court reserved an order for the regular bail pleas of Manish Sisodia.

He sought regular bail in CBI and ED cases related to the Delhi excise policy case. While opposing the bail plea the CBI said that while rejecting his bail, the court had made certain observations. His bail was also dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Advocate Vivek Jain appeared for Manish Sisodia, Zoheb Hossain for ED, Pankaj Gupta for the CBI. CBI’s Prosecutor Pankaj Gupta while opposing the bail said that Sisodia is the main accused in the case, he is not entitled to bail.

He further said that the accused is a powerful political person. The investigation is at the nascent stage. It was further submitted that there are allegations of destruction of evidence and misuse of power which may hamper the probe.

Pankaj Gupta referred to former PM Manmohan Singh who said that corruption is cancer for the society.

On April 6, While opposing the plea the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had said that there was no delay caused on the part of the Prosecution. Rather it was caused by the accused persons by filing frivolous applications in the Delhi excise policy case, the ED said before the Rouse Avenue court.

The main thrust of arguments by counsel for Manish Sisodia was the delay in trial. It was argued that trial proceedings are going at a snail’s pace.

ED’s special counsel Zoheb Hossain opposed the argument of delay. Hossain submitted that the trial has not proceeded at a snail’s pace and there has been no delay from the prosecution side.

There are 95 applications moved by 31 accused persons, Hossain argued. “There is a delay by the accused persons and not by the Prosecution,” Hossain Submitted.

ALSO READ-BJP compares Kejriwal with Escobar

Categories
India News Politics

They are planning to kill Kejriwal, says Sunita

Sunita Kejriwal further alleged that the Delhi Chief Minister is not being allowed insulin in jail, while claiming that he has been taking it for the last 12 years. She further alleged that there is a conspiracy to kill CM Kejriwal…reports Asian Lite News

Levelling strong accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre, Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said that every morsel being consumed by her husband is being monitored and attempts are being made to “kill” him in jail by denying him insulin.

The former bureaucrat further said that CM Kejriwal has “no desire” for power and he just wants to serve the nation and bring it to the first position in the world.

She was speaking at the ‘Nyay Ulgulan Rally’ by INDIA bloc leaders against the arrest of two key opposition faces — ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal — in Ranchi, Jharkhand, amid the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing the rally, Sunita Kejriwal said, “Arvind Kejriwal has no desire for power. He just wants to serve the nation. He wants to make the country no.1. He says if educated people don’t come in politics, how will the country progress?…’Jail ke taale tutenge, Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren chhutenge.”

Sunita Kejriwal further alleged that the Delhi Chief Minister is not being allowed insulin in jail, while claiming that he has been taking it for the last 12 years. She further alleged that there is a conspiracy to kill CM Kejriwal.

“Many people say politics is a very dirty thing, and it’s true. There is a camera over his food, his every morsel is being monitored…He is a sugar patient, and he has been taking 50 units of insulin every day for the last 12 years. But he is not being given insulin in jail. They want to kill Delhi’s CM,” the wife of the AAP national convenor said.

“They can never understand Arvind Kejriwal’s thoughts. He believes he has received very good education and upbringing, which is an obligation on him that he has to repay. He has struggled and fought for the country. He is very brave. He is a lion. He is only thinking about how to ease the lives of common citizens. He is worried about ‘Bharat Mata’ even in jail,” she added.

She was reading Arvind Kejriwal’s message from jail, and elaborated upon the promises made by the Aam Aadmi Party for the Lok Sabha elections.

“He (Arvind Kejriwal) has said if INDIA bloc comes to power and is given the responsibility, we will all make India great. ‘INDIA’ is not just in our name, but in our hearts too,” the former bureaucrat said.

“He has given six guarantees: 24 hours of electricity without power cuts, free electricity for poor, quality and free education in government schools, Mohalla clinics in every village, and multi-speciality hospitals in every district. Farmers will get crop prices according to the Swaminathan Commission, and Delhi will be given full statehood,” she further added.

Earlier, a similar INDIA bloc rally was also held in the Ramlila Maidan in the national capital, where several opposition leaders joined hands to make a call for “saving democracy” in the country.

Elections will be held in Jharkhand in four phases: May 13, 20, 25, and June 1.

In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 12 seats in Jharkhand, with the BJP winning 11. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress got one seat each.

Meanwhile, the Tihar Jail Administration submitted a report to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor yesterday regarding the health status of Kejriwal, who has been lodged in Tihar jail since April 1 this year.

According to the report, Kejriwal was on insulin for diabetes control. The report also called it “incorrect” to say that the Chief Minister was being denied insulin by jail authorities.

Earlier on Friday, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court reserved order on a plea moved by Kejriwal seeking direction from Tihar jail authorities to administer insulin and allow him to consult doctors through video conferencing daily for 15 minutes with respect to his acute diabetes and fluctuating blood sugar level.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the ED about the Delhi Excise Policy case. The trial court, on April 15, extended the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal until April 23.

The ED alleged that the Aam Adami Party is the major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged liquor scam. (ANI)

AAP workers protest outside Tihar jail

Delhi Minister Atishi accompanied by scores of AAP workers carrying insulin assembled outside the Tihar Jail in west Delhi on Sunday, claiming that jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s blood sugar levels had soared past the 300 mark.

“We are here representing AAP workers and the residents of Delhi, bringing insulin. The Tihar administration had ceased providing insulin on orders from the BJP. Kejriwal used to require 54 units of insulin. His blood sugar level has remained at 300 for the past 10 days. Such elevated levels necessitate insulin,” said Atishi.

“PM Narendra Modi and the BJP harbour animosity towards Kejriwal and are risking his life. Such high sugar levels can have life-threatening consequences,” she said, adding, “We are present here to deliver the insulin to the Tihar administration.”

Earlier, the Tihal Jail administration claimed in a report submitted to Delhi Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena that CM Kejriwal was on insulin for the past few years which he stopped a few months ago after consulting a doctor in Telangana, and at the time of his arrest he was taking only a basic anti-diabetes oral medicine named Metformin.

The report, citing medical records from the RML Hospital in the national capital, claimed that CM Kejriwal has neither been advised any insulin nor any requirement of insulin indicated in his case, adding that the Chief Minister is on anti-diabetes oral medicine.

CM Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged excise policy scam, is lodged in Jail No. 2. He is under judicial custody till April 23.

On April 18, L-G Saxena directed the DG Prisons to submit a factual and comprehensive report within 24 hours after AAP leader Atishi alleged that CM Kejriwal’s sugar levels had risen significantly after the jail authorities failed to provide him with insulin despite repeated requests.

The same day, the ED told a Delhi court that CM Kejriwal was deliberately eating mangoes and other high-carb food to raise his blood sugar level to build a case for his bail.

ALSO READ-From Punjabi Cinema to Pan-Indian Acclaim

Categories
India News Politics

Kejriwal moves SC, terms arrest as assault on democracy

Assailing the HC verdict, Delhi CM’s plea said the judgement failed to appreciate that the statements made before the probe agency are not held to be gospel truth…reports Asian Lite News

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of the plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy case.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed his plea, saying Kejriwal’s arrest is not in contravention of law and remand can’t be termed “illegal”.

The high court further stated that this court is of the opinion that the accused has been arrested and his arrest and remand have to be examined as per law and not as per the timing of elections.

Kejriwal’s challenge to the timing of arrest before general elections in the absence of any mala fide on the part of ED is not sustainable, said the court.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21. The trial court sent him to judicial custody till April 15. ED alleged that the Aam Adami Party (AAP) is the major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged liquor scam.

The agency also claimed that Kejriwal was directly involved in the formation of the excise policy. The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi Excise Policy 2022, which was later scrapped.

While Kejriwal was not named in the FIRs registered by the ED or the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Delhi excise policy case, his name first found a mention in the ED’s chargesheet, wherein the agency claimed that he allegedly spoke to one of the main accused, Sameer Mahendru, in a video call and asked him to continue working with co-accused and AAP communications-in-charge Vijay Nair.

In the appeal filed in the top court, Kejriwal said his arrest on March 21 after the announcement of the general elections is “obviously motivated by extraneous considerations”.

“The intervention of this court is urgently warranted, as over and above the issue of illegal curtailment of liberty, the petitioner’s arrest also constitutes an unprecedented assault on the tenets of democracy, free and fair elections and federalism, both of which form significant constituents of the basic structure of the Constitution,” it said.

The arrest was made solely relying on subsequent, contradictory and highly belated statements of co-accused who have now turned approvers, it said.

Moreover, such statements and material were in possession of the Enforcement Directorate since the last nine months and still the arrest has been made illegally in the middle of general elections 2024, the plea said.

“The petitioner’s arrest bears serious, irreversible ramifications for the future of electoral democracy in India and if he is not released forthwith to participate in the upcoming elections, it will establish a precedence in law for ruling parties to arrest heads of political opposition on flimsy and vexatious charges before elections, thereby eroding the core principles of our Constitution,” the plea said and sought his immediate release by terming the arrest as illegal.

Assailing the high court verdict, the plea said the judgement failed to appreciate that the statements made before the probe agency are not held to be gospel truth and can always be doubted by the courts.

“The High Court in the impugned judgement failed to appreciate that such statement of co-accused  later- turned approver statements cannot be the starting point for ascertaining the guilt of the accused person, and also the HC has failed to appreciate the procedure adopted by the ED in procuring such statements by coercion,” the plea said.

HC dismisses plea seeking Kejriwal’s removal

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea moved by Delhi’s former Minister Sandeep Kumar, seeking direction to remove Kejriwal from holding the post of Chief Minister.

The Court said, “This is the third petition with identical prayers. We will impose a Rs 50,000 fine on the petitioner. Stop making a mockery of the system. Costs are the only way to curb such petitions.”

The bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora showed displeasure with the petitioner and stated that the Governor will take a call on this.

“We won’t. Don’t give political speeches in court. You’re trying to involve us in political tricket,” it said.

An ex-minister in the Aam Aadmi Party government and former MLA has recently filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, seeking the removal of Arvind Kejriwal from holding the post of Chief Minister.

The petition claims a writ of quo-warranto against Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that he has incurred the incapacity to hold the office of Chief Minister of Delhi after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in Excise Policy case.

Petitioner Sandeep Kumar, former Minister for Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, SC/ST Govt of NCT of Delhi in Aam Aadmi Party government and former MLA from Sultanpur Mazra Vidhanbasa Delhi, through plea stated that Arvind Kejriwal, while lodged in jail, has incurred an incapacity to carry out his constitutional obligations and functions under Articles 239AA (4), 167 (b) and (c) and proviso to sub-section (4) of section 14 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and hence he can no longer function as the Chief Minister of Delhi. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Kejriwal is a lion, wouldn’t be in jail for long, says Sunita  

Categories
-Top News Politics

Kejriwal is a lion, wouldn’t be in jail for long, says Sunita  

All leading Opposition leaders on Sunday came together and shared the stage at the Ramlila Maidan to register their protest over Kejriwal’s arrest in the case…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the protests and political showdown around her husband’s arrest in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, Sunita Kejriwal, wife of the embattled chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, assured party workers that he was as valiant as a lion and wouldn’t be in jail for long.

Addressing party workers at a mega show of strength of the AAP and its partners in the INDIA bloc to rally support for CM Kejriwal, his wife said, “Your Kejriwal is a lion, they (BJP-led Centre) will not be able to keep him in custody for long. He remains in the hearts of crores of people across the country.”

The Delhi CM is currently in the custody of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) till April 1, Monday, in connection with the liquor policy case.

In an emotional pitch to party supporters and people before reading a message from her husband, Sunita, a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, said, “Your very own Kejriwal has sent a message for you from custody. However, before reading out this message, I would like to ask you something. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi put my husband in custody. Do you all believe that he did the right thing? Do you believe that Kejriwal-ji is a true patriot and honest person? These BJP people are saying that since Kejriwal is in custody, he should resign. Do you all believe he should resign?”

She added that the strong determination and courage with which she saw her husband fighting his arrest in the liquor case reminded her of the freedom fighters who made the ultimate sacrifice during the struggle for independence.

“The courage with which he is fighting his arrest and for the people and the country often reminds me of the freedom fighters who died fighting for the country’s independence. Maybe Kejriwal was destined to wage this struggle for Bharat Ma,” she said.

She then proceeded to read out six promises that Kejriwal said the INDIA bloc would fulfil if voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. These include 24×7 electricity supply across the country, free power supply for the poor, good government schools in every village and mohalla, MSP (minimum support price) for farmers in accordance with the Swaminathan Commission report and full statehood for Delhi.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 after several hours of questioning in connection with the excise policy case.

All leading Opposition leaders on Sunday came together and shared the stage at the Ramlila Maidan to register their protest over Kejriwal’s arrest in the case.

Speaking at the Maha Rally, senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Gopal Rai questioned the need to arrest Kejriwal, a sitting chief minister, in the liquor policy case.

“Protests erupted across the country since his arrest on March 21. No one has a clue yet why a sitting CM had to be arrested. But it isn’t about Kejriwal alone. Before arresting the Delhi CM, his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren was arrested (in a land ‘scam’ case) as well. Such misuse of the ED and CBI (against Opposition leaders) has put our democracy in peril,” Rai said at the rally on Sunday. (ANI)

Akhilesh takes dig at BJP over poll pitch

Taking a dig at the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday questioned why it was ‘scared’ of the AAP and other Opposition forces if it was so confident of going ‘400 paar’ (beyond 400 seats) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing the Opposition’s Maha Rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, the former UP chief minister said, “These people (BJP and its NDA partners) are raising chants of ‘400 paar’. If they are so confident of winning that many seats, why be scared of the AAP and the other Opposition leaders? They are sending elected chief ministers to jail. Not just fellow countrymen but the whole world has condemned these arrests.”

Further raising the pitch against the BJP, the SP chief added, “The BJP call themselves the biggest political party in the world. However, on the evidence of their track record over the last 10 years, they are a party of the biggest liars in the universe.”

Accusing the ruling party at the Centre of using probe agencies at their disposal to harass Opposition leaders and keep their hold on power, Akhilesh claimed that they would lose as many seats as they are claiming to win.

“If they keep using the ED, CBI and IT to stay in power, then they are not going to win but lose 400 seats. A closer look at the prevailing state of affairs in the country would tell you that the people are not with the BJP,” the former UP chief minister added.

“The entire country knows today how the BJP raised funds using the ED and CBI. To prevent more skeletons (on electoral bonds) from tumbling out, they are filing false cases against Opposition leaders using the ED and CBI,” Akhilesh said.

In a show of strength against the arrest of Chief Minister Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy ‘scam’, and several other issues, the leaders of the INDIA bloc held a ‘Loktantra Bachao’ rally at the Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 and is currently in the custody of the central agency till April 1.

Addressing the Loktantra Bachao rally, Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita, assured party workers that her husband is as valiant as a lion and will not be in jail for long.

“Your Kejriwal is a lion, they will not be able to keep him in jail for long. He is in the hearts of crores of people,” Sunita Kejriwal said at the Ramlila Maidan.

In an emotional pitch to AAP supporters and the people before reading out a message from her husband from ED custody, Sunita, a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, said, “Your very own Kejriwal has sent a message for you from custody. However, before reading out this message, I would like to ask you something. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi put my husband in custody. Do you believe he did the right thing? Do you all believe that Kejriwal-ji is a true patriot and an honest person? These BJP people are saying that since Kejriwal is in jail, he should resign. Should he resign?”

She said seeing the determination and courage with which her husband was fighting the arrest in the liquor policy case reminded her of freedom fighters who laid down their lives during the struggle for independence.

“Seeing the courage and strong resolve with which he is fighting his arrest and for the people and country often reminds me of our freedom fighters who died fighting for our independence. Maybe Kejriwal was destined to wage this struggle for Bharat Ma,” Sunita said. (ANI)

ALSO READ-No relief from HC for Kejriwal

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

No relief from HC for Kejriwal  

Judge Baweja allowed Kejriwal to meet his family members, including his wife, daughter, PA and advocates…reports Asian Lite News

A Delhi court on Thursday extended, till April 1, the ED custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, holding that there were “sufficient reasons” while allowing him to meet his family members and lawyers.

CM Kejriwal, whose alleged role in the excise policy scam is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was produced before Special Judge Kaweri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court on the expiry of his six-day ED remand on Thursday.

Judge Baweja, who is hearing the case, had sent him to ED custody on March 22.

On Thursday, the probe agency sought the Chief Minister’s custody for seven more days. However, after hearing the arguments, the court extended the AAP supremo’s ED remand by four days till April 1, observing that there appear to be “sufficient reasons” to permit his further custodial interrogation, particularly keeping in view the submissions of the ED.

The probe agency submitted that he is required to be confronted with the material collected and statements recorded so far in the course of the investigation.

The court directed the investigation officer to ensure that further interrogation and confrontation etc. of the accused is done without any delay.

Judge Baweja allowed Kejriwal to meet his family members, including his wife, daughter, PA and advocates.

Moreover, the court has directed the agency to conduct the interrogation at a place with CCTV coverage and for the preservation of the footage. The ED has also been asked to provide the requisite medication to Kejriwal and get him medically examined in accordance with the law during the period of his custody.

During the hearing on Thursday, the courtroom was packed with CM Kejriwal’s supporters. His wife Sunita Kejriwal and AAP leaders Gopal Rai, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, among others, were also present in the courtroom.

Appearing for the ED, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju submitted that Kejriwal needs to be confronted with some individuals connected to AAP who have been summoned from Goa. He also accused Kejriwal of not cooperating with the probe and giving evasive replies, adding that digital data needs to be checked for which the ED needs passwords.

“Kejriwal says he will ask his lawyers whether to give the passwords,” he said.

As the court also allowed Kejriwal to make personal submissions, he said the CBI has filed 31,000 pages while the ED has filed 25,000 pages in the case, but no one has been found guilty.

“My question is, why have I been arrested,” he asked. “I am not opposing the ED custody… It can keep me for as long as it wants, but this is a scam. My name was taken by four witnesses… Many people come to my residence, is that enough ground to arrest a sitting CM,” Kejriwal said.

He also claimed that people are being made approvers in the case and forced to change their statements.

On Kejriwal’s claim that Sarath Reddy gave over Rs 50 crore to the BJP, the ASG said that it had nothing to do with the liquor scam. “The BJP did not have the right to make the (excise) policy. We are not concerned with anyone paying any money to any person. That has nothing to do with the liquor scam,” he said.

He also claimed that the ED has materials to show that Kejriwal demanded Rs 100 crore in kickbacks.

The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21 after questioning him for over two hours at his official residence in Delhi. On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court refused to grant any interim relief to Kejriwal, who contended that his arrest and the remand order passed by Judge Baweja were illegal and that he was entitled to be released from custody immediately, holding that the probe agency has to be granted an opportunity to file a reply.

The ED has termed Kejriwal the “kingpin and the key conspirator” of the alleged excise scam in collusion with other ministers of the Delhi government, AAP leaders, and other persons.

ALSO READ-India Summons US Diplomat Over Kejriwal Arrest Remarks

Categories
India News USA

US asks India to ensure fair legal process for Kejriwal

Delhi Police personnel in a scuffle with photojournalists during the Aam Aadmi Protest (AAP) protest against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi’s Patel Chowk on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

Kejriwal, the national convenor of the AAP, was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded to the ED’s custody till March 28 by a Delhi court...reports Asian Lite News

The United States has said that it encourages a “fair and transparent” legal process for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the liquor policy scam. A US spokesperson told Reuters that Washington is closely monitoring the reports of the arrest of the Aam Aadmi Party leader ahead of the general elections. “We encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal,” the spokesperson said.

The US reaction came days after Germany made a similar statement, saying the chief minister was entitled to a fair and impartial trial. “We assume and expect that the standards relating to the independence of Judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case,” German foreign ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer said on Friday. India termed his remarks an interference in its judicial process and lodged a strong protest by summoning the German deputy chief of mission in New Delhi on Saturday.

“We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “India is a vibrant and robust democracy with the rule of law. As in all legal cases in the country, and elsewhere in the democratic world, law will take its own course in the instant matter. Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted,” he further said. Kejriwal, the national convenor of the AAP, was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded to the ED’s custody till March 28 by a Delhi court. The Delhi High Court will hear a petition by Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the ED, on Wednesday. The case pertains to the alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 which was later scrapped. Top AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are in judicial custody in the case.

AAP launches campaign for saving Constitution

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a social media campaign asking people to support it for saving the constitution and democracy in the country.

Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Atishi addressed a press conference here to launch the social media “DP (display picture) campaign”, urging people to join in.

She said that all AAP leaders and volunteers will change their profile picture on X, Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media accounts with the new one showing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal behind the bars captioned “Modi Ka Sabse Bada Dar Kejriwal”.

Kejriwal is the only leader in the country who can challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi so he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate without any evidence just after the announcement of Lok Sabha polls, Atishi said.

She claimed the ED could not produce even “one Paisa” of evidence despite its two-year-long probe into the alleged excise scam.

She alleged that the BJP and Modi want to crush Kejriwal and added that the AAP was waging a battle against “dictatorship” in the country.

She urged people to join the social media DP campaign of the party saying saving the democracy and the Constitution was not just Kejriwal’s fight.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED in connection with the money laundering case linked to now scrapped excise policy of his government on Thursday last week. He is in custody of the agency till March 28.

Delhi HC to hear plea

The Delhi High Court has said that it will hear on Wednesday a petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the remand order passed by a trial court in connection with the excise policy case.

The plea, which contends that his arrest and the remand order passed by a trial court were illegal and that he was entitled to be released from custody immediately, will be heard by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, the court said on Tuesday.

New Delhi, March 13 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal addresses during the inauguration of the 3-lane flyover stretch at Moti Nagar Ring Road in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

On March 23, the court had refused to immediately hear Kejriwal’s petition in the case.

Kejriwal’s legal team had sought an immediate hearing.

The ED, which was given the custody of Delhi CM till March 28 by the court, has alleged that the Aam Adami Party (AAP) is the major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged liquor scam.

ALSO READ-Thousands call for Gaza ceasefire in London march