Delhi excise policy case: Court extends judicial custody of CM Arvind Kejriwal

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the Enforcement Directorate case related to the excise case.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja extended the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal till July 25. He was produced through video conferencing from Tihar Jail. The court directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to supply a copy of the supplementary charge sheet to the counsel of Kejriwal and the other accused.

National Secretary Pankaj Gupta and an official representative of the party appeared for the Aam Aadmi Party before the court.

The accused, Vinod Chauhan, was also produced before the court.

Another accused, Ashish Mathur, was granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh. He was charged sheeted without arrest by the ED.

On July 9, the court took cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet filed against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. The court had also taken cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet filed against Vinod Chauhan and Ashish Mathur.

The court had taken cognizance of the charge sheets and had issued production warrants for Arvind Kejriwal, Vinod Chauhan and AAP. Summons through the Investigating Officer (IO) were issued to Ashish Mathur. These are the seventh and eighth supplementary charge sheets in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi Excise policy.

Enforcement Directorate had filed a supplementary prosecution complaint (charge sheet) against Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party on May 17. Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21. Another supplementary prosecution complaint was filed by the ED against Vinod Chauhan and Ashish Mathur on July 1.

In this money laundering case, ED arrested Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K Kavitha, Sanjay Singh, Arvind Kejriwal and others including businessmen.

Opposing the bail plea of Arvind Kejriwal, ASG SV Raju had submitted that there is evidence that Kejriwal demanded a bribe of Rs. 100 crores, which went to the AAP for Goa election campaign.

It was also argued that Rs 45 crore was sent by Vinod Chauhan to Chanpreet Singh through hawala dealers. Chanpreet Singh was looking after the AAP Goa election campaign.

The ED while seeking remand, had submitted that the arrestee (Kejriwal) was shown evidence of Hawala transfers to the tune of Rs 45 crore approx, which is corroborated with CDR locations, call records, IT seized data of Hawala firm in Goa, proof of payments being done in part cash and part bill and WhatsApp showing this arrangement. He was also shown multiple statements of witnesses who worked on the AAP campaign in Goa who received cash from one Chanpreet Singh who was working for the AAP campaign in Goa.

While opposing the bail application, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju submitted that "bribe money" was sent for the Goa election by Hawala transactions, 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.

ASG had also referred to the statement of Sagar Patel. As per the statement, three people received cash, including Chanpreet Singh.

ASG submitted that the instructions were given by Vinod Chauhan to make payments to Chanpreet at Goa and others. The photo of the matching note (used for Hawala transactions) has been found on the phone of Vinod Chauhan.

ASG SV Raju also submitted that Arvind Kejriwal was in touch with Vinod Chauhan through chats. Acknowledgement by Arvind Kejriwal to chats shows proximity with Vinod Chauhan. It was also submitted that Rs One crore has been recovered from Vinod Chauhan. It was also submitted that Section 70 of PMLA directly applies to Kejriwal as he is the incharge of AAP, which is a company in terms of Section 70 of PMLA, ASG contended.

Kejriwal is national convenor of AAP and in charge of the affairs of the party, ASG had said. (ANI)