Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: AAP holds 'explosive' press conference today on Delhi excise policy money trail

Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: AAP leader and minister Atishi announced on Saturday that the ruling party in the national capital would conduct a 'highly significant' press conference regarding the financial aspects of the excise policy case.

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Shantanu Poswal
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Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: A day following Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's transfer into the custody of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) by a Delhi court, senior AAP leader and minister Atishi announced an impending 'explosive' press conference on the money trail linked to the excise policy case. Atishi took to her official X handle on Saturday, sharing, "Explosive PC at 10 am today on the money trail from the Delhi Excise Policy. Watch this space."

Chief Minister Kejriwal was remanded to ED custody for seven days, extending until March 28, following his arrest by the central probe agency regarding alleged money laundering in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court issued the order after Kejriwal's appearance on Friday post his questioning Thursday night. 

The legal proceedings saw senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vikram Chaudhari, and Ramesh Gupta, alongside counsels Rajat Bharadwaj, Mudit Jain, and Mohd Irshad representing the Delhi CM. ASG SV Raju and Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared for the probe agency. The case revolves around purported irregularities and money laundering related to the framing and execution of the Delhi excise policy in 2022, subsequently terminated.

In a statement to reporters following the court's decision to place the AAP leader in ED custody, Atishi expressed the party's intent to pursue all available legal avenues. "We, very respectfully and humbly disagree with the decision of the court. The ED has no proof, even after 2 years of investigation. ED forced their witnesses to give statements against Arvind Kejriwal... We will explore all possible legal routes," she asserted. Emphasising Kejriwal's position, she added, "Arvind Kejriwal will remain the CM of Delhi. There is no constitutional bar on him on being the CM. He has not been convicted as yet."

Meanwhile, amidst the stir caused by a sitting chief minister's arrest, the AAP revealed plans to 'gherao' Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on March 26 as a protest against Kejriwal's arrest, announced senior party leader Gopal Rai on Friday. The ongoing case revolves around alleged irregularities and money laundering linked to the Delhi excise policy of 2022, which was later annulled. 

Notably, two senior AAP figures, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are already in judicial custody concerning the excise policy case. Sisodia, who held the position of deputy chief minister during the liquor policy formulation, was apprehended by the CBI on February 26 after several rounds of questioning. On October 5, the ED also arrested Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, in connection with the investigation into money laundering charges associated with the now-discarded excise policy.