NEW DELHI:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has voiced its disagreement following the High Court’s rejection of the petition challenging the arrest of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Senior AAP Leader Shri Jasmine Shah expressed concerns, highlighting that the entire case surrounding the alleged liquor scam in Delhi relies heavily on statements coerced from government witnesses through third-degree methods. Shri Jasmine Shah emphasized that numerous witnesses have attested to the use of such tactics, accusing the ED of orchestrating a calculated scheme to extract contradictory statements. This scandal marks a historic first in Indian jurisprudence, with a two-year-long investigation, hundreds of raids, and over 500 testimonies yielding no conclusive evidence or resolution. Despite acknowledging the court’s authority, the AAP does not agree with the verdict and intends to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court, hoping for a similar outcome to that of Shri Sanjay Singh, ensuring justice prevails for CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal.
At a press conference held at the party headquarters on Tuesday, Senior AAP Leader Shri Jasmine Shah said that they respect the High Court. “However, we disagree with the decision on the petition filed against the illegal arrest of CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal. Regarding this matter, we will now knock on the door of the Supreme Court, and we are hopeful that just as Shri Sanjay Singh received justice, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal will also get justice only through the doors of the Supreme Court,” he added.
The AAP Leader further said that the alleged liquor scam of Delhi, is the first case in Indian history where an investigation has been ongoing for almost two years, with more than 250 raids have been conducted, and over 500 witnesses summoned. Despite all these efforts, not even a penny has been recovered. However, leaders of the National Party are being systematically put in jail one by one.
“Everyone knows that there is no evidence in this case. On October 30, 2023, the Supreme Court clearly stated in its order on Shri Manish Sisodia’s bail petition that not even a rupee has been recovered. The ED has no evidence of any transactions involving even a single rupee. If this case goes to trial, it won’t last even two minutes. The Supreme Court had also said on Sanjay Singh’s bail petition, ‘Where is the money trail?’ If the ED continues to be stuck against Shri Sanjay Singh’s bail, we will pass an order that will completely shut the case. After that, the ED was forced to retreat,” he said.
Shri Jasmine Shah mentioned that in this case, several witnesses had gone to court and said that third-degree methods were being used on them. They were being forced to name leaders of the AAP under pressure. Witness Chandan Reddy also said in the High Court that he was slapped so hard that his eardrums burst. He also presented medical reports in court. Another witness, Arun Pillai, said in court that pressure is being put on his daughter, wife, and family to give statements according to their wishes. Witness Sameer Mahendru also said that his father was held in office, wife was being stopped at the airport. Pressure is being exerted on his family. “Now think, if pressure is put on someone’s family, will they not give contradictory statements? The ED has created so much pressure on all witnesses under a well-thought-out conspiracy that until they give statements according to their wishes, they will not be released,” he reasoned.
“This whole case is only stuck on government witnesses. Among them is the father-son duo, namely Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy and Raghav Reddy. Their story is astonishing. On September 16, 2022, there was an ED raid at the father-son’s place. At that time, both did not give any statement against Shri Arvind Kejriwal. When the ED did not get the desired statement, on February 10, 2023, Raghav Reddy was arrested and he stayed in jail for five months. During this time, he gave a total of 6 statements, and Magunta Reddy also gave two statements. Even in these eight statements, there was no mention of Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s name. But after spending five months in jail, the morale of both father and son broke, and on July 16, 2023, for the first time, he took Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s name. After that, on July 18, 2023, Raghav Reddy was granted bail and both became government witnesses,” the AAP leader stated.
He added that the BJP awarded Magunta Reddy with an NDA ticket as a reward on March 29, 2024. While the statements of both have been recorded under the PMLA’s section. Action can be taken for giving false statements. But when the ED says that they will accept the later statement, does it mean that the statements given before the magistrate were false? Retrieve all phone records of conversation between BJP and both father and son. The entire case will be solved. Now there is no veil left, a blatant conspiracy is being hatched openly.
“We respectfully disagree with today’s hearing in the High Court. The court said that government witnesses are valid under the law. If we disagree with the statements of government witnesses, we will have a chance to argue during the trial. But for now, no comments will be made on this. When Sanjay Singh’s bail petition was dismissed in the High Court, the hearing was conducted in exactly the same manner. However, on the other hand, when this matter went to the Supreme Court, seeing the same sequence of events, the Supreme Court granted bail to Shri Sanjay Singh. In this regard, we have full hope that justice will be served from the Supreme Court in Shri Arvind Kejriwal’s case as well,” Shri Jasmine Shah concluded.
