New Delhi: The Delhi HC on Monday sought a reply from Jail authorities on a plea of Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking 2 additional legal meetings with his lawyers through video conferencing from Tihar Jail. He is in judicial custody in the Delhi Excise policy case.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna sought a reply in five days. The matter has been listed for arguments on July 15. His application was rejected by the trial court.

Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta appeared for Arvind Kejriwal and submitted that the applicant is seeking additional legal meetings with his counsel. There is nothing wrong with it. On the other hand, senior counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared for ED and he also wanted to file a reply.

Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta objected and said that ED is not a party in this application. Meanwhile, the counsel for jail authorities also appeared and sought time to file a reply. The court granted him time.

Kejriwal has challenged the orders passed by the trial court on April 10 and July 1, denying him two additional legal meetings with his counsel. The Rouse Avenue Court on July 1 denied Kejriwal two additional meetings with his lawyers through video conferencing (VC) from Tihar Jail.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the application moved on behalf of Arvind Kejriwal. He had moved an application seeking directions to the Jail Authorities for granting two additional meetings with his lawyers through VC.

A special judge said, “Learned counsel for the applicant has failed to convince the court as to how the applicant is entitled to two additional legal meetings through VC on the same grounds that have been discussed and dealt with in the earlier order. There appears to be no reason whatsoever to take a different view on the basis of the contents of the application under consideration.”

It also said that it is not in dispute that a similar application filed by the applicant seeking the same relief of additional legal meetings with his lawyers was dismissed by this court vide a detailed order of April 10, 2024.

The Court observed, “The application under consideration discloses no new/fresh ground to take a different view from the earlier order dated April 4, 2024. The order dated February 22, 2024, and relief granted to co-accused Sanjay Singh have already been discussed and differentiated in the order dated April 10, 2024.”

“Thus, having considered the submissions made and the observations already made in the order of April 4, 2024, I see no reason whatsoever to allow the application under consideration. The application is accordingly dismissed,” the court ordered on July 1.

It was submitted that Kejriwal is facing about 30 litigations throughout the country and requires two additional meetings with his lawyers through VC to discuss the cases, and claim his right to fair trial.

The counsel for Kejriwal also submitted that, after filing this application, the applicant has been arrested in one more case by the CBI. Further, co-accused Sanjay Singh was allowed additional legal meetings by an order of February 22, 2024. (ANI)