Arvind Kejriwal has faced another setback after Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday dismissed the Chief Minister's plea seeking additional time to meet his lawyers while lodged in judicial custody.
Arvind Kejriwal had asked permission to meet his lawyers 5 times a week. Lodged in Tihar jail, the Delhi CM is currently allowed to meet them twice a week.
Earlier today, Kejriwal moved plea in the Supreme Court against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and his judicial custody a day after the High Court dismissed it.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the High Court said that ED gave enough proof in this case that Kejriwal was aware about the things.
A bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma took note of the ED's submission that the agency had enough material, including statements from approvers and allegations of involvement in the formulation of the excise policy, which had led them to arrest him.
It said, "The files and material placed before us reveal that the mandate of law was followed by the ED. The trial court order is not a two-line order. The statements with ED are of hawala dealers as well as AAP candidates in Goa elections."
Immediately after he was taken into custody by the ED on March 21, CM Kejriwal moved the apex court seeking an urgent late-night hearing on his petition. On the very next day, before a special Bench of the Supreme Court could commence hearing the matter, he withdrew his plea and decided to contest remand proceedings before the trial court.
Modi govt wants to keep elected CM in jail, says AAP
Addressing a presser on Arvind Kejriwal, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, "The Modi government wants to keep an elected Chief Minister of Delhi in jail... two days ago Arvind Kejriwal met his lawyer and during that meeting, he gave the message that the elected MLAs should go to their areas and listen to the problems of the people. And just on the basis of this message, an inquiry has been set up against him and a threat is being given that you will be stopped from meeting your family and lawyers...''
Meanwhile, at 1 pm today, a meeting regarding the strategy for Lok Sabha elections will be held at Kejriwal's residence. CM's wife Sunita will be present in the meeting.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, MPs Sandeep Pathak and Sanjay Singh, ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj, Gopal Rai and party leader Jasmine Shah will also be attending the meeting.
With inputs from IANS
ALSO READ | 'Poster boy of corruption': Delhi BJP releases poster on Arvind Kejriwal
