Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Sent to Judicial Custody Amid Money Laundering Probe

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was taken to Tihar Jail to begin a 14-day judicial custody period following a court decision on Monday, in relation to allegations connected to a liquor policy-linked money laundering case. Arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Kejriwal will be held in solitary confinement within Prison Number 2, under constant CCTV surveillance. Given his medical history, provisions have been made to accommodate a special diet and necessary medications, alongside permission to keep a religious locket.

During the court proceedings, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, pointed out Kejriwal’s non-cooperation and evasive responses during custody, suggesting a potential need for future custody. The court’s decision comes on the back of a recent Supreme Court judgment and amidst applications by Kejriwal’s lawyers to permit the AAP chief certain personal items, including religious texts and a book on prime ministers. The Delhi High Court has also directed the ED to report on a PIL concerning Kejriwal’s capacity to issue orders from custody.

The arrest and subsequent jailing of Kejriwal have sparked significant political reactions, culminating in a ‘Loktantra Bachao’ rally in Delhi, attended by leaders across the opposition INDIA bloc, as well as Kejriwal’s family. The rally, which was a direct protest against his arrest, highlighted the growing tensions and the rallying support for the embattled chief minister.

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