The ED called Kejriwal the "kingpin of the liquor policy scam," although he denied there was any justification for his detention.......
Digital desk: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal argued his case in the Rouse Avenue court on Thursday, claiming that the Enforcement Directorate's goal was to destroy the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). After his six-day ED detention ended, Kejriwal was taken before the court and claimed the ED's main objective was to "trap" him in the now-withdrawn liquor policy case.
Kejriwal said, "I am not opposing the remand petition of the ED. The ED can keep me in custody for as many days as it wants. But this is a scam," the Delhi CM said. "The ED had two objectives. One is to crush AAP, and the second is to create a smokescreen and run an extortion racket behind it through which they are collecting money."
Despite the investigative agency's request for a seven-day extension to allow for additional questioning in the money laundering case, the judge placed Kejriwal in ED custody till April 1.
The AAP convenor questioned the money trail, pointing out the ED's claim that the alleged liquor scam was worth Rs. 100 crore. "If there is a liquor scam of Rs 100 crore, then where is that money? The real scam started after the ED's investigation," Kejriwal said.
The ED called Kejriwal the "kingpin of the liquor policy scam," although he denied there was any justification for his detention.
He further added, "I was arrested, no court has proved me guilty. The CBI has filed 31,000 pages and the ED has filed 25,000 pages. Even if you read them together, there is no reason why I have been arrested?"
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju responded to this by saying that the Delhi Chief Minister was merely playing to the crowd. "How does he know how many documents there are with the ED? This is all a figment of imagination," the ASG said.
The chief minister of Delhi additionally asserted that Sarath Chandra Reddy, a businessman from Hyderabad whose name surfaced in the Delhi liquor policy case, had given the BJP a donation of Rs. 55 crore."I have evidence of the racket that is going on. He donated Rs 50 crore to BJP after being arrested," Kejriwal said.
It was also brought up by Kejriwal that people were being "turned approver" in the case and that they were being pressured to change their opinions.
According to the ASG, the investigation team has evidence that shows Kejriwal asked for bribes of Rs. 100 crore. "The money that they say came to BJP has nothing to do with the liquor scam. There is no quid pro quo... CM is not above the law. He is an ordinary man," the ASG said.
The Enforcement Department further stated that Kejriwal has not revealed the password to the phone that was found from him. "If he does not cooperate, then we will have to open it (technically). Therefore, we need further remand. He is not cooperating," the ED said.
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