Page 57 - Arvind Kejriwal

No urgent listing in Delhi HC of Kejriwal's plea against arrest: Report

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday moved the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam but the court is unlikely to grant an urgent hearing. According to highly placed court sources, the plea is unlikely to be heard before March 27 as the court is closed for Holi. Sources in his Aam Aadmi Party had said his legal team would request the high court to hear the matter urgently, preferably on Sunday. On Friday, a trial court had remanded him in ED's custody till March 28 "for his detailed and sustained interrogation". In his plea, Kejriwal, who was apprehended by the ED on Friday night, contended that his arrest and remand were illegal and that he was entitled to be released from custody immediately. The ED had arrested Kejriwal hours after the high court refused to grant him protection from coercive action by the central anti-money laundering agency. Kejriwal had approach

Court extends ED custody of Kavitha till Mar 26 in Delhi excise policy case

A court here on Saturday extended the Enforcement Directorate custody of BRS leader K Kavitha, an accused in the Delhi excise policy scam case, till March 26. The federal probe agency has sought a five-day extension of her custody. The ED has alleged that Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was a key member of the 'South Group' that has been accused of paying the AAP kickbacks of Rs 100 crore in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital. After producing her in court, the ED said that she was confronted with the statements of four people and a forensic report of the data extracted from her phone. The probe agency also told the court that raids were being conducted at the house of her nephew in Hyderabad. BRS leader's counsel filed a bail plea in court. Kavitha, 46, a Telangana Legislative Council member, was arrested by the central probe agency from her residence at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad on March 15.

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AAP asks ED to file case against BJP, alleges it received crores in scam

The AAP asked the ED on Saturday to file a case against the BJP, alleging that the saffron party received crores of rupees from an accused in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam through electoral bonds. Addressing a press conference, Delhi minister Atishi asserted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has not been able to establish a money trail against any Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader despite multiple raids, arrests and two-year-long investigations in the alleged liquor scam. "Two days ago, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in connection with the alleged liquor scam on the basis of Sarath Reddy's statement. On November 9, 2022, Reddy had said he did not know Kejriwal. After the ED arrested him, he changed his statement, saying he knew Kejriwal," Atishi said. Reddy of Aurobindo Pharma was arrested by the federal agency in November last year in connection with the excise policy case. Atishi alleged that Reddy donated crores of rupees to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJ

I-T dept searches premises linked to AAP's Delhi MLA Gulab Yadav, others

The Income Tax department on Saturday conducted searches against AAP MLA Gulab Singh Yadav and some others in Delhi as part of a tax evasion investigation, official sources said. Yadav (45) is a two-time legislator and represents the Matiala seat in the Delhi Assembly. The premises of the AAP MLA in Delhi's Ghummanheda village and some others are being raided as part of a tax evasion investigation. The tax officials are being escorted by the Delhi Police, the sources said. Some documents have been recovered and certain persons have been questioned, they said.

Kavitha's nephew involved in transfer of illicit funds in liquor scam: ED

In what could further mount trouble for former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's family, the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday alleged that a nephew of BRS leader K Kavitha was "involved" in the transfer of illicit funds or the proceeds of crime in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. The central agency informed the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court of Judge Kaweri Baweja in Delhi that it conducted searches at the premises of the said relative, Meka Sri Saran, on Saturday after his role in this case came to the fore during the questioning of Kavitha over the last week. Kavitha, the 46-year-old MLC daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, was arrested by the ED on March 15 and she was produced before the court for extension of her custody on Saturday. The court sent her to agency's custody till March 26. The politician told reporters during her production in court that "this was a fraud and wrong case...we

India summons German envoy to protest comments on Kejriwal's arrest

India on Saturday summoned the German deputy chief of mission here and lodged a strong protest against the country's foreign ministry's remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The German envoy Georg Enzweiler was summoned by officials in the external affairs ministry and told that the German Foreign Ministry's remarks on Kejriwal's arrest were an interference in India's judicial process and any "biased assumptions" were "most unwarranted", an MEA official said. A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson had "taken note" of Kejriwal's arrest. "We assume and expect that the standards relating to the independence of Judiciary and basic democratic principles will also be applied in this case," the German official had said. "The German deputy chief of mission in New Delhi was summoned today and conveyed India's strong protest on their Foreign Office spokesperson's comments on our internal affairs," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "We see

AAP office in Delhi 'sealed', matter to be raised with EC, says Atishi

The AAP office in Delhi has been "sealed off" from all sides, senior leader Atishi claimed on Saturday and said the party will report the matter to the Election Commission. In a post on X, Atishi questioned the "sealing" of the party office, saying it is against the "level playing field" promised by the Constitution. "How can access to a national party office be stopped during the Lok Sabha election? This (is) against the 'level playing field' promised in the Indian Constitution. We are seeking time with the Election Commission (EC) to complain against this," the Delhi minister said in her post. Another senior AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that all access to the party office has been closed by the central government. "We will approach EC, the central government has closed all access to AAP head office at ITO, that too in Model Code of Conduct," he said in a post on X. The AAP office at DDU Marg near ITO in central Delhi was also blocked on Friday during a

Kejriwal will be released, start revolution in country: Punjab CM Mann

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in ED custody in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case, will be released and bring a revolution in the country, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann said on Saturday. The 55-year-old AAP national convenor was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday from his official residence. He was on Friday produced in court, which sent him to ED custody till March 28. Mann, Delhi ministers Atishi and Kailash Gahlot, and Mayor Shelly Oberoi visited Shaheedi Park on Saturday to commemorate the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. "The BJP wants to bring dictatorship in the country. Sending opposition leaders to jail is not freedom. Let us unite or the country will be ruined. Kejriwal will come out, bringing a big revolution," Mann said. The Delhi government will run according to the law, he said. "No law says that a chief minister sent to jail under a political vendetta needs to resign. He is in

Delhi Metro's ITO, Lok Kalyan Marg stations reopen, say DMRC officials

The Delhi Metro has reopened the ITO and the Lok Kalyan Marg stations, a day after these were closed in view of an AAP protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, officials said on Saturday. "ITO metro station and Lok Kalyan Marg metro station are now open for entry/exit," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a post on X. On Friday, the DMRC announced that the two stations would remain closed until further notice. The move came after the AAP launched a protest against Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case.

Sunita Kejriwal reads out message from Delhi CM Kejriwal held in ED custody

"Your son and brother Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has sent a message from the jail," Sunita Kejriwal said citing her husband

In message from ED custody, CM Kejriwal says no bar can keep him inside

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita, in her first address following his arrest, on Saturday read out a message in which the Delhi chief minister asserted that every moment of his life has been dedicated to serving the country. In a message from the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) custody, the Delhi chief minister said no bar can keep him inside and he will soon return. He also assured that it has never happened that he failed to fulfil any promise, assuring women about the implementation of a scheme that will provide an honorarium of Rs 1,000 per month to eligible beneficiaries. The Delhi chief minister is in ED custody till March 28, following his arrest by the agency in connection with a money-laundering case linked to Delhi's now-scrapped excise policy. "Whether inside or outside, every moment of my life is dedicated to serving the country. Every drop of my blood is dedicated to the country," Kejriwal said. He added that he was born for struggles and is destined for bigger

Delhi excise policy case: AAP demands clarity on money trail from ED

AAP leaders have also raised questions about the links between the approver Sarath Chandra Reddy and the BJP, highlighting large donations made by the head of Aurobindo Pharma via electoral bonds

Security personnel patrol central Delhi amid AAP's call for protest

Security personnel continue to patrol central Delhi on Saturday amid a call by the AAP to gather at Shaheedi Park to protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with an excise policy-linked money-laundering case. Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said all AAP MLAs, councillors and office-bearers, and INDIA bloc representatives will gather at Shaheedi Park at 10 am on Saturday -- the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev -- and take a pledge to save democracy. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will also attend the programme, Rai said. Delhi Police officials said roads leading to Shaheedi Park have yet to be shut but may be closed depending on the situation. "If they try to march or hold a protest, action will be taken," a senior officer said. Traffic may also be hit in parts of central Delhi due to heavy barricading and police deployment. A local court on Friday remanded Kejriwal in the Enforcement Directorate's custody till March 28 "for his .

Kejriwal finally brought to justice: BJP after Delhi CM sent to ED custody

The BJP on Friday welcomed a Delhi court's decision to send Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the ED's custody in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case, saying the "kingpin of the crime" has finally been brought to justice. Addressing a press conference here, Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Smriti Irani said after the court's order, the country is convinced that nobody is above the law. "The news about the court sending him to (the ED's) remand has at least convinced the country that nobody is above the law. The kingpin of the crime, Arvind Kejriwal, has finally been brought to justice," she said. "Kejriwal came with a promise of change and transparency. What he sought to do was use the state instrument to defraud the public exchequer. "Today, he stands before the law to be adjudged and prosecuted, and then made to pay for his crimes.... This is the true face of the kingpin of the crime, Arvind Kejriwal," Irani alleged. Kejriwal (55) was arrested by

The idea of Kejriwal

The 'idea' Kejriwal's politics grew around was a no-holds-barred fight against corruption. That is the reason the Modi govt has now tarred him and his entire party with the same paint

Delhi maintains revenue surplus despite dent in liquor taxes since 2022-23

The new excise policy, introduced in Delhi in November 2021, made sweeping changes to the city's liquor trade

Will Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal's arrest be AAP's waterloo moment?

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he launched in 2012, is today one of the most successful political startups of the last seven decades

Delhi court sends Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28

Sources in the opposition bloc stated that Kejriwal's arrest has galvanised the parties in the alliance, with the Congress, the Trinamool, and the Left setting aside their differences

INDIA bloc leaders moves EC, allege misuse of central agencies by BJP

A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, a delegation of leaders of the INDIA bloc parties approached the Election Commission of India alleging "unrelenting, blatant and illegal deployment of Central Agencies" by the ruling BJP to stifle the opposition parties. In a memorandum submitted to the EC, the INDIA party leaders submitted a list of recent instances of central agencies targeting opposition parties and alleged an absence of a level playing field for the opposition. The leaders also suggested that the poll panel should change the heads of the probe agencies during the election to ensure a fair play. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "We pointed out this is not a normal complaint, it is a larger issue of effecting, impairing, undermining, and sabotaging the basic structure of the Indian constitution. "We pointed out that the level playing field is the heart and soul of free