Arvind Kejriwal, K Kavitha judicial custody extended till May 7
A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha till May 7 in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. The court also extended the judicial custody of the Aam Aadmi Party's alleged fund manager for the Goa elections, Chanpreet Singh, till May 7. Notably, the court's decision comes a day after Kejriwal's plea seeking daily consultation with his doctor was rejected.
Why does this story matter?
To recall, Kejriwal is awaiting the Supreme Court's verdict on his plea challeging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the case, while Kavitha is awaiting her bail plea's outcome at Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on May 2. The ED alleges Kejriwal's involvement in forming the policy and soliciting ₹100 crore in bribes for the AAP's poll campaigns. Separately, Kavitha is accused of playing a key role in the "South Group"—which allegedly offered funds to the AAP for liquor licenses.
Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest was heard on April 15
Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest was heard on April 15 but did not result in immediate relief. The Delhi High Court had previously rejected the same plea, stating that the ED had provided sufficient evidence to support its claim. Notably, both the AAP and Kejriwal have denied all charges, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of political vendetta ahead of the election.
Kavitha is awaiting the outcome of her bail plea
Meanwhile, Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation while already in jail in the ED's case earlier this month. She was arrested by the ED on March 15. Like Kejriwal, Kavitha has denied the charges and questioned the timing of the ED and CBI actions against her, which occurred weeks before the general election. Both the leaders are lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail.
