delhi-hc-grants-kejriwal-two-extra-meetings-with-lawyers

The Delhi High Court has granted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal permission to hold two additional legal meetings with his lawyers each week via video conferencing while he remains in Tihar Jail. This decision comes as Kejriwal faces charges related to the alleged liquor scam, including corruption and money laundering.

 

The court's ruling allows Kejriwal to spend more time with his legal team, addressing his plea for additional meetings. The High Court deemed his request reasonable, contrasting it with the prosecution's argument that no special privileges should be granted to him compared to other inmates under the existing jail policies.

 

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, presiding over the case, dismissed the prosecution's claim that granting special status to Kejriwal would be inappropriate. She noted that the request for extra legal meetings is not about seeking special treatment but rather about enforcing a fundamental right.

 

The court also pointed out that similar relief had been granted to co-accused Sanjay Singh, highlighting the precedent for such allowances. This ruling emphasises that the additional meetings are a measure to ensure that Kejriwal can adequately prepare his defence, given the complexity and number of his cases.

 

Previously, on April 10, a Delhi court had denied Kejriwal’s request to increase the number of legal meetings to five per week. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja noted that Kejriwal was not utilising his allowed two meetings per week effectively, as they were being used for purposes beyond legal consultations.

 

Kejriwal had argued that the standard two weekly meetings were insufficient due to the multiple cases he is involved in across various states. He claimed that additional time was necessary for thorough discussions and preparation with his legal counsel.

 

This recent decision by the Delhi High Court provides Kejriwal with an opportunity to better address his legal challenges and work on his defence strategy, acknowledging the need for adequate legal support during his incarceration.