Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has told the Delhi High Court that he is a victim of a “witch-hunt” by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy ‘scam’.
Kejriwal, who is seeking bail, claimed that ED’s actions would amount to a miscarriage of justice if his bail is cancelled. He also accused ED of using illegal tactics to pressure co-accused into making incriminating statements in exchange for “no-objection” from the prosecution to grant them bail. On June 20, he was granted bail by a vacation judge Niyay Bindu of Rouse Avenue Courts on June 20.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has stayed the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) challenge to Kejriwal’s bail order, with the Chief Minister refuting claims that the trial court did not give ED a fair opportunity to address its arguments. Kejriwal argued that the bail order was well-reasoned and showed a due application of mind, carefully considering and recording relevant arguments and contentions.
He also alleged ED of having an “apathy, insensitivity and overbearing as well as over-reaching attitude” towards courts of law, saying their submissions were “untenable in law”.
“With utmost respect, the language employed by the ED in the grounds urged before this Hon’ble Court insofar as the Ld. Special Judge is concerned, ought to be frowned upon by this Hon’ble Court and strictures deserve to be cast as such kind of remarks and insinuations will not only be detrimental to the cause of justice but would also render our District Judiciary to be demoralized,” the response reads, as quoted by Live Law.
The statement adds that no offense is made out against Kejriwal under Section 3 of the PMLA, and therefore, his life and liberty must be protected from “unwarranted and unjustified violation” by the ED based on a “false, malicious and motivated case without any merit.”
Kejriwal stated that since nothing relevant was probed by the IO during his ED custody, the arrest was made illegally just to harass and humiliate a political opponent.
“There exists no proof or material demonstrating that the AAP received funds or advanced kickbacks from the South group, let alone utilizing them in the Goa election campaign. Not a single rupee was traced back to the AAP, and the allegations put forth in this regard are devoid of any tangible evidence, rendering them vague, baseless without any corroboration,” the reply states.
It adds that there is no link whatsoever established by ED to claim that Rs. 45 crore was transferred by the South group as an advanced kickback which was then allegedly utilized by AAP in the Goa elections.The matter was listed today for hearing. However, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna adjourned the hearing to July 15 as the ED requested time to file its counter affidavit to Kejriwal’s reply.
Yesterday, the trial court took cognizance of the seventh supplementary chargesheet filed by ED in the money laundering case, naming Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party as accused.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) examined Kejriwal in Tihar jail and recorded his statement, hours after the Delhi High Court stayed his bail in the PMLA case.
With court permission, the CBI examined Kejriwal on June 26 and then formally arrested him. Kejriwal was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21. In May, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail until June 1 in light of the general elections. He surrendered on June 2.