Delhi High Court Allows Kejriwal Additional Legal Meetings in Jail

The Delhi High Court has allowed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal two extra virtual meetings with his lawyers weekly. Kejriwal, in judicial custody for an alleged excise scam, required these additional meetings for fair trial and effective legal representation. His request faced opposition from the Enforcement Directorate and Tihar jail authorities.

The Delhi High Court has granted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal permission to hold two additional virtual meetings with his lawyers each week while in jail, recognizing that special situations necessitate special remedies.

Kejriwal, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the alleged excise scam, was previously allowed two meetings per week under prison rules.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna allowed the extra meetings citing Kejriwal's fundamental right to a fair trial and effective legal representation. His counsel had argued that due to approximately 35 cases against him across the country, additional lawyer meetings were essential.

The plea was strongly opposed by representatives from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Tihar jail authorities.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while he was already in Tihar Jail under judicial custody for a money laundering case filed by the ED. Although granted bail in that case, the order was stayed, and interim bail was provided by the Supreme Court on July 12. He remains in custody for the CBI-registered corruption case related to the excise scam. The excise policy, scrapped in 2022, is under scrutiny for alleged irregularities and favoritism.

The CBI and ED allege that irregularities occurred during the modification of the excise policy, leading to undue advantages for license holders.

(With inputs from agencies.)