Arguing his personal case in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court docket in a uncommon transfer, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday asserted that the motive of the Enforcement Directorate was to crush the Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP). Kejriwal, who was dropped at court docket after his six-day ED custody got here to an finish, stated the ED’s solely mission was to “entice” him within the now withdrawn liquor coverage case.
“I’m not opposing the remand petition of the ED. The ED can maintain me in custody for as many days because it needs. However it is a rip-off,” the Delhi CM stated.
“The ED had two goals. One is to crush AAP, and the second is to create a smokescreen and run an extortion racket behind it by way of which they’re gathering cash,” Kejriwal additional stated.
The Enforcement Directorate has sought a seven-day extension of the custody of Kejriwal for additional interrogation within the cash laundering case.
The AAP convenor, highlighting the ED’s submission that the alleged liquor rip-off was value Rs 100 crore, questioned the cash path. “If there’s a liquor rip-off of Rs 100 crore, then the place is that cash? The true rip-off began after the ED’s investigation,” Kejriwal stated.
Kejriwal, who has been referred to as the “kingpin of the liquor coverage rip-off” by the ED, stated there have been no grounds for his arrest.
“I used to be arrested, no court docket has proved me responsible. The CBI has filed 31,000 pages and the ED has filed 25,000 pages. Even for those who learn them collectively, there isn’t any motive why I’ve been arrested?” he stated.
CM ARVIND KEJRIWAL PLAYING TO THE GALLERY: ED
Reacting to this, Further Solicitor Normal SV Raju stated the Delhi CM was solely enjoying to the gallery. “How does he know what number of paperwork there are with the ED? That is all a figment of creativeness,” the ASG stated.
The Delhi CM additional claimed that Hyderabad-based businessman Sarath Chandra Reddy, whose title cropped up within the Delhi liquor coverage case, donated Rs 55 crore to the BJP. “I’ve proof of the racket that is occurring. He donated Rs 50 crore to BJP after being arrested,” Kejriwal stated.
Kejriwal additionally identified that folks have been being “turned approver” within the case and persons are being pressured to vary their statements.
The ASG stated the probe company had materials to show that Kejriwal demanded Rs 100 crore kickbacks. “The cash that they are saying got here to BJP has nothing to do with the liquor rip-off. There isn’t any quid professional quo… CM isn’t above the legislation. He’s an unusual man,” the ASG stated.
The ED additional stated that Kejriwal has not disclosed the password of the cell phone recovered from him. “If he doesn’t cooperate, then we should open it (technically). Subsequently, we want additional remand. He isn’t cooperating,” the ED stated.