Excise policy: Before Arvind Kejriwal's detention, the SC requests case files from the ED and challenges it about the probe's delay

Excise policy: Before Arvind Kejriwal's detention, the SC requests case files from the ED and challenges it about the probe's delay

In addition, the ED was directed to provide case files from both before and after Manish Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi and an accused in the case, was taken into custody by a panel of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) was questioned by the Supreme Court on Tuesday on the "delay" in its investigation into the money laundering case involving Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the excise policy. The court also requested that the ED provide case files prior to the arrest of the AAP leader.

In addition, the ED was directed to provide case files from both before and after Manish Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi and an accused in the case, was taken into custody by a panel of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.

In this matter, Kejriwal is contesting his arrest by the ED, and the bench is hearing arguments on his appeal.

It questioned how long the ED had taken to look into the matter and pointed out that it had taken the organization two years to find anything. The judge also questioned why the defendants and witnesses in the case were not given pertinent straight questions. Speaking on behalf of the ED, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju said that Kejriwal's participation in the case became evident later on and that at first the probe was not centered on him.

He said that during the 2022 Goa Assembly elections, Kejriwal stayed in a seven-star hotel, with the general administration department of the Delhi government reportedly covering some of the expenses.

Raju provided the judge with a memo in which he refuted Kejriwal's claim that the investigation agency had concealed the approvers' comments.

The debates about the issue have begun.

After being taken into detention on March 21, Kejriwal is now being held under judicial supervision at Tihar Jail.

On April 15, the top court sent the ED with a notice requesting a response to Kejriwal's appeal against his arrest.

The Delhi High Court affirmed Kejriwal's detention on April 9, stating that there was no illegality and that the ED had "little option" after he ignored many summonses and refused to cooperate with the inquiry.

The issue concerns suspected money laundering and corruption during the development and implementation of the excise policy for 2021–2022 that the Delhi government has since rejected.