Delhi Excise Policy Case Live: BJP Said Join Us Or You Will Be Arrested, Delhi Minister And AAP Leader Atishi Makes Big Claim

NEW DELHI: Amid political bickering in the Delhi excise policy case, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi claimed on Tuesday that the ruling BJP at the Centre approached her with an offer to join the saffron party with a warning that she would be arrested if she fails to do so. “BJP through one of my close aides approached me to join their party to save my political career and If I do not join the BJP then in the coming one month I will be arrested by ED,” Delhi Minister Atishi said in a press conference. 

The Rouse Avenue Court sent the AAP supremo to judicial custody till April 15 in an alleged money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy case yesterday. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate about the excise policy case. However, the AAP leaders sharpened their attacks soon after. In a post on X, Atishi said, “I will be doing an explosive expose at 10 am tomorrow.”

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: AAP Slams BJP

Previously, Delhi Minister Atishi made allegations on March 23, claiming that a money trail was discovered in the BJP’s account. She then challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to “arrest” BJP national president JP Nadda. Atishi emphasized that, up to that point, no money trail had been found connected to any AAP leader.

“In the so-called excise policy scam of Delhi, CBI and ED investigations have been going on for the past two years. In these two years, a question has come up again and again Where is the money trail? Where did the money go? No proceeds of crime were recovered from any leader, minister or worker of AAP,” Atishi said.

Additionally, she claimed that Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest was based solely on the testimony of one individual, Sharad Chandra Reddy. Atishi went on to disclose that Sarath Chandra Reddy had donated Rs 4.5 crore in bonds to the BJP, emphasizing that no illegal funds were discovered during the ED’s search at the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence.

Live: Kejriwal’s Arrest A ‘Lesson For Congress, Says Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, a key face of INDIA bloc’s alliance partner CPI(M), has said that the arrest of his Delhi counterpart and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has turned out to be a lesson for the Congress. “When Manish Sisodia was arrested by ED, Congress back then complained for not arresting Kejriwal. They asked “Why are they not arrest Kejriwal? He was leading the scam.” This was Congress’ stand back then. That continued for a good time span. Now, they have changed their stands. I am not questioning Congress’ current stand, but they should have admitted that their stand was wrong back then,” Vijayan said.

LIVE: 4 Security Personnel To Guard Delhi CM, Kejriwal Allowed To Watch TV, Home-Cooked Food

Kejriwal, housed in Tihar’s jail No. 2, will be allowed to have home-cooked food as ordered by the court. He will also get to read books and watch Television. The Delhi CM will be under watch for 24 hours as a CCTV camera has also been installed in his cell. Kejriwal will also be guarded by four personnel round the clock in shifts. According to Tihar officials, an inmate starts his day with tea, biscuits and snacks including ‘dalia’ between 7 and 8 am. The lunch either has chapati or rice along with dal and one vegetable.

Delhi Excise Policy Case: BJP Alleges Power Struggle In AAP

On Monday, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Manoj Tiwari asserted that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has unveiled an internal power struggle within the party. Tiwari alleged that Kejriwal has implicated Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj by suggesting they were the individuals Vijay Nair reported to.

According to Tiwari, Kejriwal’s actions signify an internal power struggle within the AAP, as Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj are not stepping back from their pursuit of the Chief Minister post. Tiwari further alleges that Kejriwal’s motive is to clear the path for his wife to assume the role of Chief Minister, indicating a division within the party’s ranks.

Live: Delhi CM Lodged In Tihar

In the meantime, the Court instructed Tihar Jail authorities to permit Kejriwal to bring his prescribed medication and books. CM Kejriwal has been kept in Jail number 2. The court has mandated authorities to furnish one table and chair, a religious pendant, and a special dietary regimen as outlined by medical professionals, following the jail’s guidelines. Kejriwal, through his legal representatives, submitted a request seeking permission to bring along several books, including the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and a book titled “How Prime Minister Decided” by Neerja Chaudhary.