Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal filed a petition in court requesting more time with his lawyer than the allotted one hour per week. This was in relation to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor case. The Enforcement Directorate opposed the plea, arguing it would violate jail rules. “Just because someone chooses to govern from prison does not make them an exception deserving special privileges,” the ED’s lawyer told the judge. A decision on the petition was reserved by the court.
Kejriwal’s lawyer contended that one hour per week was insufficient for proper legal counsel and sought five meetings per week instead. On this Kejriwal’s counsel argued, “This is a basic legal right – to meet my lawyer. Sanjay Singh was granted three meetings when he only had five or eight cases.” The ED countered that Kejriwal was already getting two meetings per week instead of the standard one.
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“In jail, a person’s status outside is irrelevant and they are treated equally. They have already been allowed two meetings per week. A consequence of judicial custody is limited outside contact per the law,” the ED said, adding that Kejriwal was misusing legal interviews for non-consultation purposes. “Under valid custody, certain rights are curtailed. You don’t have absolute rights…they are limited as per jail manuals,” the ED maintained.
Arvind Kejriwal was sent to Tihar Jail on April 1st for 15 days until the next hearing on April 15th. He has named five people who can visit him in jail – his wife Sunita, two children, personal secretary Bibhav Kumar, and AAP MP Sandeep Pathak. Reports suggest Kejriwal seems dazed and confused in his cell. He spends his days walking, reading, sweeping, watching TV, and doing yoga. He has two slices of bread and tea for breakfast.
