Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's legal saga continues as a Delhi court has decided to extend his Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody until April 01. The case revolves around allegations of money laundering linked to an alleged liquor policy scam, leading to Kejriwal's arrest on the night of March 21.

Special CBI judge Kaveri Baweja, presiding over the Rouse Avenue Courts, issued the order following Kejriwal's appearance in court after the conclusion of his initial six-day ED custody. The decision comes after the Delhi High Court declined interim relief in Kejriwal's plea challenging the arrest and subsequent remand, opting instead to issue a notice.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju presented arguments in court, highlighting Kejriwal's purported "evasive replies" during interrogation. The ED expressed the need to confront Kejriwal with individuals summoned from Goa, seeking an additional 7 days of custody. Raju said that being a sitting CM does not absolve one from legal procedures, asserting that there are no separate standards for a CM's arrest.

In a related development, the ED summoned AAP's Goa unit chief Amit Palekar and other party leaders for questioning, with their appearance scheduled at the agency's Goa office today.

During today's court session, Kejriwal personally addressed the proceedings and indicated that he did not oppose the extension of his remand. He vehemently denied the charges, labelling the entire case as a "political conspiracy" devoid of substantial evidence against him. Kejriwal accused the central probe agency of selectively collecting material and coercing the approver into making false statements against him.

A notable point of contention arose regarding Kejriwal's mobile phone, with the ED alleging that he refused to share the password. Kejriwal countered, asserting that ED lacks the authority to compel him to unlock his electronic devices.

On the other hand, the Delhi High Court rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Thursday that sought the removal of Arvind Kejriwal from his position as Delhi Chief Minister following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case.

The court stated that there is no room for judicial interference in the matter, highlighting that it falls under the purview of the executive branch to address such issues. The bench comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora held that if there were constitutional concerns, the President or Governor would take appropriate action.

The PIL, filed by Surjit Singh Yadav through lawyer Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh, argued that Kejriwal's continuation as Chief Minister after the arrest tarnished the credibility and image of the Delhi government in the public eye.