Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody till April 15 by a Delhi court on Monday regarding his money laundering case related to a now-revoked liquor policy. The incident happened less than three weeks before the commencement of the voting for the Lok Sabha elections.
After his Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody ended, Kejriwal appeared before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja. The enforcement agency requested 15-day judicial custody for the Delhi CM, mentioning that they might need additional custody later on.
Kejriwal’s schedule in jail?
As reported by Indian Express, like other prisoners, Kejriwal will wake up at sunrise around 6:30 am currently, the prisoners are then given tea and slices of bread as their breakfast around 6:40 am.
After taking the morning shower, Kejriwal, who is running the Delhi government from ED custody — will be headed to a court, in case he has a hearing, or choose to meet his lawyers.
Lunch will be served at 11 am, consisting of dal, a sabzi, rotis, and rice, NDTV reported.
Then, the prisoners are required to stay in their cells between 12 pm and 3 pm.
The AAP leader will be served tea and biscuits at 3:30 pm just like other prisoners and then, can hold a meeting with lawyers at 4 pm, Indian Express reported.
Then, early dinner is served, which comprises similar dishes as lunch, and the prisoners are finally locked inside their cells around 7 pm, the IE report added.
Prisoners can watch television from 5 am to 11 pm when no prison activities like meals are scheduled. Only a few channels of news, sports, and entertainment are available, NDTV stated.
Medical staff is available around the clock in cases of emergency. Kejriwal, who is diabetic, will also undergo regular checkups during his time in prison. Kejriwal’s lawyers have urged for dietary restrictions in light of his illness. The Delhi CM can meet his family twice a week, only the members whose names are on a pre-approved list, NDTV said.
Kejriwal’s lawyers sought permission on Monday for the CM to access Hindu mythology texts Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana along with the book ‘How Prime Ministers Decide’ by journalist Neerja Choudhary.
Also read | No interim relief for Arvind Kejriwal from Delhi HC, next hearing on April 3
Where will Kejriwal stay in Tihar Jail?
As per ANI, Kejriwal is set to be lodged in Tihar’s Jail Number 2. Delhi’s former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is lodged in Jail Number 1. Former city health minister Satyendar Jain is in Jail Number 7 and a few days ago, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh was moved to Jail Number 5, ANI reported.
K Kavitha, leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is currently housed in Jail Number 6 of the women’s section.
Case against Kejriwal
On March 21, the AAP leader was arrested by the ED regarding the excise policy case and has been in ED custody for 10 days as per court orders. Previously, the agency alleged Kejriwal’s direct involvement in formulating the excise policy.
He was taken into custody by the central agency on corruption charges, marking the first instance in India of a sitting CM being arrested. This action followed Kejriwal skipping nine summonses from the ED, which he deemed “illegal”.
The case revolves around suspected irregularities and money laundering during the development and enactment of the Delhi Excise Policy 2022, which was later scrapped.
For more updates, click here.
