A local court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until September 3 over the alleged excise policy scam.
Produced before the Rouse Avenue Court through video conferencing from Tihar Jail, where he is currently lodged, he submitted that his earlier judicial custody had expired.
In its recent counter affidavit before the apex court, the CBI stated that all important decisions in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy were taken at the instance of Kejriwal and the then Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister, Manish Sisodia.
The CBI has prayed for the dismissal of Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest on the grounds that he is politicizing the matter. It said that the courts have already passed prima facie orders about the offences in question, and the judiciaries have taken cognizance of the same.
As many as 25 candidates of the party, including those who later became ministers, were paid the amount shown as election expenses either fully or partially, the agency alleged in one such charge. The CBI said it had information that Rs 44.54 crore was transferred as election expenses of AAP from Delhi to Goa through hawala from the party's account. "Kejriwal disbursed these funds for Goa elections and also gave assurance to the candidates of his party regarding expenses on their accounts," the agency further contended.
The bail plea of Kejriwal and the CBI's challenge to his arrest stand listed for hearing before the Supreme Court on September 5.
In the previous instance also, on July 12, the Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail in another case of money laundering filed by the Enforcement Directorate. However, Kejriwal was not released as the CBI's case was still operational.
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