NEW DELHI: A Delhi court rejected chief minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s application seeking more time with his lawyers. Special judge for CBI and ED cases, Kaveri Baweja dismissed the plea, saying there was no sufficient grounds to grant the relief.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed Kejriwal’s plea, saying that special privileges cannot be granted just for running the government from jail.
Kejriwal’s counsel argued that the current allowance of one hour per week for legal consultations was inadequate given the multiple pending cases.
The councel emphasized the importance of the basic legal right to meet with an advocate, citing examples of others being granted more meetings for fewer cases.
“This is the most basic legal right that I am asking to meet my advocate. Sanjay Singh was granted three meetings when he had only five or eight cases,” the counsel said.
The ED objected to Kejriwal’s request for five weekly lawyer meetings, saying it violated jail regulations. The agency highlighted that Kejriwal already had two meetings per week, more than the standard practice.
Allegations were made that legal interviews were being misused for non-consultation purposes. Despite being in custody, Kejriwal has been issuing governance instructions from behind bars, with his party asserting he will continue to govern.
The AAP leader argued that two meetings per week were insufficient due to facing multiple cases across states.
Kejriwal was remanded to judicial custody until April 15 in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam. The ED accused him of involvement in the Delhi liquor scam conspiracy, kickbacks, and using proceeds for campaign purposes.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed Kejriwal’s plea, saying that special privileges cannot be granted just for running the government from jail.
Kejriwal’s counsel argued that the current allowance of one hour per week for legal consultations was inadequate given the multiple pending cases.
The councel emphasized the importance of the basic legal right to meet with an advocate, citing examples of others being granted more meetings for fewer cases.
“This is the most basic legal right that I am asking to meet my advocate. Sanjay Singh was granted three meetings when he had only five or eight cases,” the counsel said.
The ED objected to Kejriwal’s request for five weekly lawyer meetings, saying it violated jail regulations. The agency highlighted that Kejriwal already had two meetings per week, more than the standard practice.
Allegations were made that legal interviews were being misused for non-consultation purposes. Despite being in custody, Kejriwal has been issuing governance instructions from behind bars, with his party asserting he will continue to govern.
The AAP leader argued that two meetings per week were insufficient due to facing multiple cases across states.
Kejriwal was remanded to judicial custody until April 15 in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam. The ED accused him of involvement in the Delhi liquor scam conspiracy, kickbacks, and using proceeds for campaign purposes.
