The single-judge today said that she has considered the responses and proceeded to reserve her order.
NEW DELHI: Today (18th July): The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on the plea by jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to allow additional meetings with his legal team. Kejriwal is currently in Tihar jail due to cases initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy of 2021-22.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna sought responses from Tihar Jail authorities and the ED regarding Kejriwal’s plea.
The single-judge today said that she has considered the responses and proceeded to reserve her order.
Kejriwal is currently permitted two weekly meetings with his legal team. He initially requested the trial court to permit two additional meetings and to conduct them via virtual conference, citing over 30 cases against him nationwide.
Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Baweja rejected this request, noting a similar earlier plea had also been denied. Kejriwal then appealed to the High Court.
The Tihar Jail authorities have opposed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s request for additional legal meetings, arguing that he should not receive special treatment.
In their response filed before the Delhi High Court, the jail authorities stated that the current limit of two weekly visits by family members, relatives, friends, and legal advisers is not arbitrary.
They emphasized that the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution applies equally to all inmates, many of whom are facing multiple trials, and all adhere to the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018.
The authorities have stated in their reply that,
“Tihar Prison is currently housing approximately 20,000 inmates (including undertrials and convicts) out of which many of the inmates are facing trial in many cases, even more than the petitioner herein, but the Rule 585 of Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 is equal for all and Kejriwal cannot be granted special treatment.”
The Delhi High Court issued notices to Tihar Jail authorities and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in response to a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking permission for additional meetings with his legal team. The notice was issued by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who has sought responses from both Tihar Jail and the ED.
Kejriwal argued that he is currently entangled in 35 legal cases across the country, necessitating more frequent meetings with his legal team to formulate an effective legal strategy. Currently, Kejriwal is permitted to meet with his legal team only twice a week.
Initially, Kejriwal had approached the trial court with a request to increase the number of his legal meetings to four per week, citing the extensive legal challenges he faces. He proposed that these additional meetings could be conducted through virtual conferences.
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Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, accused of participating in a conspiracy with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders to exploit the Delhi Excise Policy for the benefit of certain liquor vendors, with the funds allegedly being used to support AAP’s Goa election campaign.
The CBI arrested him on June 26 in connection with a money laundering case. Although the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the ED case on July 12, he remains in jail pending bail in the CBI case.
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