On Monday, the Delhi High Court directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submits its note to the special judge regarding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s issuance of directives while in custody in the money laundering case associated with the excise policy. Along with this Order High court disposed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to prohibit Kejriwal from issuing directives in his capacity as chief minister while under the custody of the ED.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora instructed the special judge overseeing Kejriwal’s arrest in the money laundering case to issue an order, if necessary, in accordance with legal procedures.
During the hearing, the ED’s legal representative stated that the agency was addressing the concerns raised in the petition.
The court was informed by the ED’s representative that they were not facilitating Kejriwal with any resources for issuing directives.
Kejriwal’s legal counsel strongly opposed the petition, arguing that it lacked the legal standing to be heard and that the ED was competent to handle the matter.
The petitioner, Surjit Singh Yadav, asserted in the PIL that Kejriwal’s issuance of directives as the CM contradicts the legal framework and the principles of fair and thorough investigation.
The petition also requests the ED not to provide Kejriwal with a typist, computer, and printer.
The national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who was arrested on March 21 and subsequently placed under ED custody by a Delhi court, faces allegations of direct involvement in a conspiracy related to the formulation of the excise policy benefiting specific individuals.
Kejriwal has been remanded to judicial custody by the trial court until April 15.
