The Enforcement Directorate has claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal named fellow Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and state ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj while being questioned in connection with the liquor policy case.
According to the probe agency, the AAP supremo told them that “Vijay Nair didn't report to him but to Atishi Marlena and Saurabh Bharadwaj and his interaction with Vijay Nair was limited [sic].”
Vijay Nair is the former communication-in-charge of the AAP and is among the accused in the liquor policy case.
When media asked Atishi at the premises of the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi about her name appearing in the case, she ignored the question and kept walking.
The case, being investigated by both the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED, pertains to alleged corruption during the formulation of a liquor policy by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government.
Apart from Arvind Kejriwal, senior AAP leaders Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have also been arrested and are currently behind bars.
On Monday, the Rouse Avenue Court sent the Delhi Chief Minister to 15 days’ of judicial custody.
During the hearing, the Enforcement Directorate told the court that Kejriwal was being uncooperative during questioning.
“Arvind Kejriwal evaded replying to questions about why Nair worked from the Chief Minister’s Camp office by claiming unawareness of the people who work at the Chief Minister's Camp office,” the probe agency said in its application.
"He did not reveal the password for digital devices... His conduct was totally non-cooperative. He is not giving his phone and is deliberately misleading the investigation by giving evasive replies."
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate, and was sent to the custody of the federal agency till March 28. His custody was extended by four days which ended today.
