The Supreme Court on Monday raised questions over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not appearing before the ED despite repeated summons being issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to record his statement. The court asked whether he can challenge his arrest in a money laundering case related to the excise policy scam on the basis that his statement was not recorded.
CM Kejriwal is in judicial custody after being arrested on March 21 in the case. He is lodged in Tihar Jail. The bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta asked several questions to senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Arvind Kejriwal, and asked why the Aam Aadmi Party leader did not file a bail petition in the subordinate court.
Court asked questions to Kejriwal
The bench said, “Are you not contradicting yourself by saying that their statements were not recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)?” You do not appear when summoned to record statement under Section 50 and then say that it was not recorded.” The court asked what the investigating officer would do if Kejriwal does not appear on the summons. Justice Khanna said, “If you do not record the statement under Section 50, then you cannot say that their statements were not recorded.”
Kejriwal’s lawyer’s reply
Singhvi said, “I say that other materials also do not establish my guilt. The ED had come to my house to arrest me, then why can’t the ED record my statement under Section 50 at my house?” Section 50 of the PMLA empowers ED officials to issue summons and produce documents, evidence and other material. Is related to doing. The bench is hearing Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate.
At the beginning of the hearing, the bench asked Singhvi, “You did not file any application for bail in the subordinate court?” Singhvi replied, “No.” The court asked, “You did not file any application for bail.” Why was no application filed? Kejriwal’s lawyer said there were many reasons for this, including the “illegal” arrest of the Chief Minister.
The Supreme Court had issued a notice to the ED on April 15 and sought its reply on Kejriwal’s petition. The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the now-canceled excise policy of the Delhi government for 2021-22.
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