Delhi CM sent to Tihar Jail till Apr 15; AAP remains defiant

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was sent to Tihar Jail on Monday after being remanded in judicial custody till April 15 in connection with an excise policylinked money laundering case, even as the Aam Aadmi Party dug in its heels asserting that he will remain the CM no matter how long he is kept in prison.

Kejriwal is the fourth top AAP leader to be lodged in the Tihar Jail after his former deputy Manish Sisodia, ex-health minister Satyendar Jain and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh.

Arvind Kejriwal was brought to Tihar at 4 pm and lodged in Jail Number 2, a prison official said, adding that he will be kept under watch for 24 hours.

"His medical examination was conducted. His sugar level was a bit low, but medicines were given to him as per our jail doctors' advice," said the official.

While Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, arrested in the same case, are lodged in Jail Number 1 and 5 respectively, BRS leader K Kavitha is in Jail Number 6. Jain, who is facing a different money laundering case, is in Jail Number 7.

While sending the chief minister to judicial custody earlier in the day, a city court noted the Enforcement Directorate's contention that his release could hamper the investigation in the case.

In its remand application, the federal agency accused Kejriwal of being "evasive" and "concealing information" during his questioning after his arrest on March 21.

In a press conference on Monday, Shah asserted that Kejriwal will remain the chief minister no matter how long he is kept in jail as he has taken a constitutional oath to serve the people of Delhi.

The Aam Aadmi Party national convener, who was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded to the ED custody by a Delhi court, faces allegations of direct involvement in a conspiracy related to the formulation of the excise policy favouring specific individuals.

Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest is scheduled to be heard by the high court on April 3.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court asked the Enforcement Directorate to submit its note to the special judge, dealing with the excise policy-linked money laundering case on the issue of CM Kejriwal "passing orders" while in custody.

ATISHI, BHARADWAJ ALSO BEING DRAGGED IN: AAP

Aam Aadmi Party leader Jasmine Shah alleged that the names of Atishi and Saurav Bharadwaj were being cited in connection with the alleged excise policy scam as the BJP thinks jailing only Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not be enough to 'finish' the AAP.