New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Monday sent in judicial custody in connection with the liquor policy-linked money laundering case.

The Jail Number 2 will be 24×7 in the CCTV surveillance

The AAP chief, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, will stay alone in the barrack and be under 24-hour CCTV surveillance. Tight security was in place on the Tihar jail premises.

Kejriwal will be provided with medicines and a special diet in jail given his history of medical issues. He will be allowed to retain a religious locket that he currently wears.

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi delivered the verdict following the end of Kejriwal’s custody with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 1 (today).

During the hearing earlier today, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, said that the agency was not asking for further remand in light of the Supreme Court’s recent judgment in former Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji’s case.

Raju argued that Kejriwal’s conduct in the lock-up was “totally non-cooperative” and he was providing authorities with “evasive replies”. He also claimed that the Delhi Chief Minister was “misleading the investigation” into the liquor case.

“In future, we may require custody. That’s the only purpose [of the statement],” Raju told the court.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal’s lawyers have moved an application to allow the Delhi Chief Minister to carry three books – Bhagavad Gita, Ramayan and How Prime Ministers Decide by journalist Neerja Chaudhary – in jail.

Notably, this is the same prison in which Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh was kept but a few days ago, he was moved to Jail number 5. Arvind Kejriwal will be the lone occupant of the Jail number 2. Since his arrest on March 21, the ED has retained custody, hinting at the possibility of requiring further interrogation in the future.

The Jail Number 2 will be 24×7 in the CCTV surveillance. His jail barrack will have a bed, drinking water and a cooler to avoid the summer heat. Moreover, Tihar Jail also provides continuous medical support to inmates, including Kejriwal, who struggles with diabetes.

Considering his health condition, specific dietary requirements have been sought for Kejriwal. Similar to other inmates, Kejriwal is provided access to television channels broadcasting news, entertainment, and sports, except during scheduled prison activities.

The Delhi CM has also requested to be provided with a few books including Ramayana, Mahabharata, Geeta and ‘How Prime Minister Decides’.