Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sent to ED custody till March 28

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been remanded to seven-day custody by a special court in the national capital on Friday evening, in connection with the excise policy case.

Kejriwal was brought before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi today, where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought a 10-day custody.

However, he has been remanded until March 28 in connection with the money laundering case related to the Delhi Excise policy. Kejriwal, who was detained on Thursday night, is scheduled to appear before the court on March 28 at 2 pm.

According to S V Raju, representing the ED, Kejriwal is alleged to be the 'kingpin' of the purported scam, with funds purportedly diverted for the Goa Legislative Assembly elections in 2022.

Ahead of his court appearance, the Delhi CM stated, “Whether I remain incarcerated or free, my dedication to serving the nation will persist.” Kejriwal's arrest by the central agency on Thursday night marks the first instance of a serving Chief Minister being apprehended in independent India.

This action followed Kejriwal's repeated defiance of multiple summons by the investigative agency, totaling nine, which he deemed "unlawful".

Delhi's Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Gopal Rai, announced that the party members, joined by leaders from the Opposition INDIA bloc, will stage a protest against CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest tomorrow at 10 am, in Delhi's Shaheedi Park, at ITO.