The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against his arrest by the ED in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.
Seeking the ED’s response, the Court posted the matter in the week commencing on 29 April.
“Issue notice returnable in the week commencing 29th April, 2024. Notice is accepted on behalf of the Respondent who are present in court. Reply will be filed by on or before April 24 and rejoinder if any by April 26, 2024,” ordered the Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.
Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, requested an earlier posting by this Friday (April 19). However, the bench declined.
“I want to show some facts, to shock the conscience of the court. There are some selective leaks,” Singhvi said.
Singhvi also tried persuading the apex court by submitting that this was an unusual matter where the petitioner was not named in the ECIR or chargesheet, Live Law reported. He also averred that the arrest was to disable the Chief Minister from campaigning.
“I am asking for an extremely short date, possibly this Friday, for a reason. This is a very unusual matter. Not because he is a Chief Minister. There are two documents, FIR and ECIR and eight chargesheets, between the CBI and the ED. This petitioner is not named. Point number 2- the story starts from September 2022. He is arrested on March 21, 2024. Between that time, there are 16 statements, 10 by one person, Sarath Reddy and six by others. All 15 statements do not state the above. One statement becomes positive….the object of arrest, post the model code of conduct, is to disable me from campaigning,” Singhvi submitted.
Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi has extended the Judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 23.
On Monday, a Special Judge for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), Kaveri Baweja, extended Kejriwal’s custody after he was produced before the court through video-conferencing on the expiry of his period of custody granted earlier. The ED sought an extension of Kejriwal’s custody, saying the investigation was at a crucial stage.
 on the petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against his arrest by the ED in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.){kind=link}