Delhi court dismisses Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking increase in number of legal meetings during judicial custody

A Delhi court has rejected a plea from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking to increase the number of legal meetings with his lawyers from two to five times a week. Kejriwal argued that due to facing multiple FIRs in various states, there is a substantial amount of legal work requiring more frequent meetings.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the plea, with Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain representing respondent authorities opposing it. Hossain argued that the request for five legal meetings per week goes against the Jail Manual, which permits only one legal meeting per week and allows for two in special circumstances. Kejriwal already receives two legal meetings as per the manual.

The court’s decision comes after the Delhi High Court recently upheld the legality of Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an Excise Case. The High Court stated that Kejriwal’s repeated failure to comply with summons for over six months was a factor in his arrest.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case and was later sent to judicial custody until April 15, 2024, by the trial court. The ED has alleged that the Aam Adami Party (AAP) is the major beneficiary of proceeds of crime generated in the alleged liquor scam.