New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody until April 15 by a Delhi court on Monday, prompting his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, to criticize the Centre, saying that the "people of the country will answer to this dictatorship." The Rouse Avenue Court took this decision in connection with an alleged money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy. "If the investigation was over, then why has he been sent to jail? The people of the country will answer to this dictatorship," she remarked.

The Enforcement Directorate, while seeking direction to send Kejriwal to judicial custody, claimed that he had provided false and contradictory evidence regarding other members of the AAP. When confronted with statements from party leaders, he dismissed them as confused. Arvind Kejriwal initially stated that ND Gupta was an active member of the party and knew its functioning, but when confronted with Gupta's statement, he referred to the National Treasurer as confused.

Regarding his interaction with Vijay Nair, Kejriwal claimed that Nair reported to Aatishi Marlena and Saurav Bharadwaj, not him, and his interaction with Nair was limited, according to the ED. Taking note of the submissions, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja decided to extend Kejriwal's judicial custody until April 15. Meanwhile, the court directed Tihar Jail authorities to allow Kejriwal to carry prescribed medication and books, providing him with a table and chair, a religious locket, and a special diet as per the jail manual.

Through his lawyers, Kejriwal requested permission to bring along several books, including the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and a book titled "How Prime Minister Decided" by Neerja Chaudhary. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case and spent 10 days in ED custody following a court order. The agency previously asserted that Kejriwal played a direct role in formulating the excise policy and was implicated in the Delhi liquor scam.

This marks the first instance in independent India where a serving Chief Minister has been arrested, following his failure to respond to multiple summonses by the investigation agency, nine in total, which he deemed "illegal." The case revolves around alleged irregularities and money laundering in the framing and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2022, which was subsequently annulled.

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