Kejriwal’s plea to increase legal meetings dismissed by Delhi court

A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the application moved by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal that sought to increase his legal meetings while he is in judicial custody.

Kejriwal had filed an application before the court seeking to increase his legal meetings from twice a week to five times a week.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the application after reserving her verdict on April 5.

Kejriwal’s lawyer, Advocate Vivek Jain had said that there are 35 to 40 cases ongoing case against him and half an hour twice a week is not sufficient for a person to understand and give instructions.

He also argued that it is the most basic right citing the example of AAP parliamentarian Sanjay Singh who was granted permission to meet his counsels thrice a week, while he was in judicial custody.

However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed the application stating that he cannot be treated as an exception and cannot be granted the privilege just because he is running a government.
ED’s special public prosecutor, Zoheb Hossain, argued that granting of five legal meetings is against the jail manual.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 and has been lodged in Tihar jail in judicial custody since April 1.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday also dismissed Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest and subsequent ED remand.

Kejriwal has now moved to SC with a plea challenging his arrest by the ED.