Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Telangana lawmaker K Kavitha, both opposition politicians, have been sent to extended judicial custody for 14 days in connection with an alleged liquor policy scam just weeks before the Lok Sabha elections. They are currently in Delhi’s Tihar Jail and will appear in court next on May 7.
Kejriwal has a pending plea in the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering charges. The court heard the matter on April 15 but did not grant immediate relief, scheduling the next hearing for April 29, shortly after the second phase of elections.
The Delhi High Court previously dismissed a similar plea, citing sufficient evidence from the ED indicating Kejriwal’s involvement in the policy and alleged demand for bribes amounting to ₹100 crore to fund AAP’s election campaigns in Punjab and Goa.
The AAP and Kejriwal deny all charges, accusing the BJP of “political vendetta” ahead of the elections. They allege that federal agencies like the ED target opposition leaders under instructions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, a claim denied by the centre.
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In a related development, Kejriwal, a Type 2 diabetes patient, received his first insulin shot in 32 days after his blood sugar spiked to 320 mg/dl. The ED opposed his plea for insulin injections, alleging that he deliberately consumed high-sugar foods to elevate glucose levels for medical bail.
A Delhi court has directed specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to assess Kejriwal’s condition and determine if insulin is necessary.
Meanwhile, Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, awaits the outcome of a bail plea on May 2 in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court. She was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for her alleged involvement in the liquor licenses bribery case.
Kavitha denies the charges and questions the timing of the ED and CBI actions, which occurred shortly before the general elections. The ED has also arrested other AAP leaders in the case, including former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh.
The Supreme Court, while granting bail to Singh, noted that investigating agencies had not recovered any alleged bribe money, raising doubts about the case’s evidence.
