Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (UP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, arrested in excise case, has been remanded in ED custody for seven days by the court. He will remain in ED custody till March 28. The ED had requested to take the Delhi Chief Minister into their custody for 10 days.

Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday night. He spent the night in the ED office. As per rules, he was produced in court within 24 hours. Kejri’s case was heard in the special CBI court judge Kaveri Bawejar’s bench on Friday. Center Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appeared before the court on Friday on behalf of the ED. He claimed that Kejriwal is the ‘kingpin of excise corruption’.

The ED told the court that the Chief Minister of Delhi has been arrested in accordance with the specific provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Opposing the AAP chief’s bail, the ED also said that Kejriwal was directly involved in the crime. It is claimed that the excise policy was formulated to take bribe from some businessmen. The ED further claimed that AAP had used excise ‘corruption’ money in Goa and Punjab assembly elections.

On Friday, the ED also claimed in the court that Kejriwal wanted money to facilitate the ‘South Group’ in the excise case. The Central Investigation Agency told the court that there is evidence in favor of this claim. Not only that, all money transactions are done through Hawala. The ED had initially claimed that the AAP leaders had taken a bribe of Rs 100 crore in the case. The ED claimed in the court on Friday that the amount of money could reach 600 crores. 

The Central Investigation Agency told the court that Kejriwal is directly involved in that matter. The ED also said that Rs 45 crore received from the excise case went to Goa through hawala. That money was used in the Goa assembly elections. Besides, the ED also claimed that the money from the excise ‘corruption’ case was used in the Punjab Assembly elections.

 Lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued on behalf of Kejriwal on Friday. Opposing the ED’s arrest, he said, “ED has taken a new approach. You have one witness, who did not name Kejriwal in the first or second statement. You arrest him. After that, he strongly opposed his bail. In the end, it can be seen that he accepts your words. Kejriwal’s name was in the statement he made after that.” Singhvi also said that no one can be arrested without a credible reason. Singhvi also claimed that ED could not show any credible reason for Kejriwal’s arrest. ED had summoned AAP chief Kejri nine times in the Delhi Excise case. But he skipped attendance eight times. In the last summons sent, the Delhi Chief Minister was asked to appear at the ED office on Thursday. But without appearing, Kejriwal approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection.