A Delhi court on Monday sent Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till April 15 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court passed the direction.Arvind Kejriwal's lawyers moved an application to allow Kejriwal to read three books in the jail - Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and How Prime Ministers Decide.He also sought permission for special diet and to have a religious locket.Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the ED on allegations that he was the "key conspirator" in the money laundering case registered in the matter.The arrest took place hours after his plea for interim protection from arrest was rejected by the Delhi High Court.On March 22, Kejriwal was produced by the ED before judge Baweja, who initially remanded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to ED custody till March 28.On March 28, Kejriwal's ED custody was extended further.The ED remand came to an end today and Kejriwal was produced in court by ED.Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for ED, said that the CM was not cooperating with the probe."Arvind Kejriwal's conduct has been totally non cooperative and he has tried to mislead the interrogation. He said Vijay Nair does not report to me but to Atishi. Kejriwal is not sharing the password for his phone," it was argued."How far are these arguments relevant to the application for Judicial Custody," the Court asked."We reserve the right to seek his ED custody at a later stage," the ASG replied.Kejriwal's arrest marked the first time a sitting Chief Minister in India was put behind bars while still in office.The ED's move in this regard has led to several rounds of litigation before the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, in addition to the remand hearings before the trial court at the Rouse Avenue Court complex in Delhi.A plea against Kejriwal's arrest was first filed before the Supreme Court on the evening of March 21, but eventually withdrawn on March 22 morning.The court battle to secure Kejriwal's release from jail then began before a Delhi trial court on March 22.After the trial court sent Kejriwal to ED custody, a plea was filed before the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest and remand.On Wednesday (March 27) the High Court declined to grant any interim relief and asked the ED to file its response in the matter by April 2.
TAGS: Delhi court Arvind Kejriwal judicial custody Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Bhagavad Gita Ramayana
