Delhi excise policy case: ED acted in most highhanded manner, Kejriwal tells SC

This comes days after the ED told the Supreme Court that AAP is the major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam

On April 27, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told the Supreme Court that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has acted in a "most highhanded manner" in a money-laundering case stemming from the alleged excise policy scam.

Kejriwal -- who is currently lodged in Tihar jail in the excise policy scam -- in a rejoinder to the ED's reply affidavit filed on his petition challenging his arrest in the case said he has always cooperated with the investigation.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said the ED, in its reply affidavit filed in the apex court, has said that one of the reasons which necessitated his arrest was that he did not remain present before the investigating officer (IO) despite being summoned nine times, according to a report by PTI.

This comes days after the ED told the Supreme Court that AAP is the major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam and has committed the offence of money laundering through its national convenor and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

According to the agency, the scrutiny done so far has disclosed that a part of proceeds of crime -- cash totalling around Rs 45 crore -- was utilised in the AAP's 2022 Goa assembly poll campaign.

Kejriwal said the ED has said in its reply that in such a case, the IO was justified in forming an opinion that custodial interrogation would lead to "a qualitatively more elicitation orientated" questioning of the accused. "The aforementioned tenor, text and contents of the reply leave no manner of doubt that the ED has acted in a most highhanded manner in a gross affront to the due process of law," he said.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday said that jailed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal will campaign for the party during the Lok Sabha elections in her husband's absence.

"Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal will enter the fray to protest against Arvind Kejriwal's arrest and seek votes for AAP candidates. It will start from Delhi tomorrow," Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi said at a press conference.

She said that Sunita will hold a roadshow in East Delhi Lok Sabha on April 27 and another in the West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency on April 28.

"Sunita Kejriwal will also visit Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat," she said.