Liquor scam case: CM Arvind Kejriwal in ED custody till April 1

Delhi's Rouse Avenue court has ordered the extension of ED custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1 in the liquor policy scam case. The Enforcement Directorate sought 7-day custody of the chief minister, but instead got remand for 4 days.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja passed the order on March 28.

Earlier Kejriwal, who was produced in the court for the liquor scam case, made submissions and said a smokescreen of the AAP being corrupt is being created.

He also said that he is ready to remain in ED custody.

The AAP leader went over statements of witnesses in the case saying that despite the ED probing the case for 2 years, his name has appeared in just 4 statements.

"I am named by four witnesses in the excise policy case. Are 4 statements enough to arrest a sitting CM?" he added.

'Is this sufficient to arrest the sitting CM?' he asked.

"ED has two motives - to create a smokescreen to crush AAP and two, to create an extortion racket. Raghav Reddy contributed 55 crores to BJP. He bought his bail. Money trail is clearly established."

Speaking in court, Kejriwal said, 'This case has been going on for 2 years. I've been arrested. I've not been convicted by any Court. CBI has filed 31,000 pages, and over 290 witnesses have been examined. ED has filed over 20,000 pages. My name is there in just 4 statements.'

ASG SV Raju who is representing the ED said that Kejriwal's statements have been recorded, however, he gave evasive replies. “He is deliberately not cooperating with us," ASG said, as reported by ANI.

The ED had produced him before Rouse Avenue court Special Judge Kaveri Baweja as his current custody was ending on Thursday.

The ED said in its fresh remand plea that during his custodial interrogation, his statements were recorded on five days and that he was "giving evasive replies".

It said the statements of three other persons have also been recorded during the remand.

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