ED Seeks Apple's Help To Access Arvind Kejriwal's iPhone In Liquor Policy Case Probe: Here's All About It

Enforcement Directorate investigators, who have been holding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in custody for over a week, have reportedly reached out to Apple in an attempt to gain access to his iPhone, according to a report from The Indian Express.

Although the ED has not recovered any electronic evidence against the Chief Minister in the form of personal computers or desktops, four mobile phones, including Kejriwal's, were seized.

During the search conducted on the night of his arrest on 21 March, approximately Rs 70,000 in cash was found at his residence but left untouched.

According to the same report, the case stated that Kejriwal mentioned during questioning that accessing his phone data and chats would reveal details of the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) "election strategy" and pre-poll alliances.

The ED has reportedly contacted Apple, the manufacturer of the phone, to seek access to Kejriwal's iPhone, but has been informed that a password is required to retrieve any data.

Kejriwal informed the ED that he has had this phone for about a year and that the device he was using during the drafting of the liquor policy in 2020-2021 is no longer in his possession.

The Chief Minister is reportedly being questioned for about five hours each day. The ED is planning to request a four-day extension of Kejriwal's remand, failing which it may seek his judicial custody.

"The Central Bureau of Investigation, which has registered the predicate offence in the case, may also ask for his custodial remand now or can be granted this even if the Chief Minister is in judicial custody in Tihar Jail," a top official said.

Kejriwal is also said to have informed ED investigators that he did not respond to the summons prior to his arrest based on "legal advice".

According to the ED remand, Kejriwal is accused of laundering money through the new liquor policy and illegally obtaining funds amounting to Rs 100 crore, of which Rs 45 crore was allegedly used for AAP's 2021-22 election campaign in Goa.

During his custody, Kejriwal has been "confronted" with C Arvind, the former PS to jailed Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who allegedly handed over the draft Group of Ministers report on the liquor policy at Kejriwal's residence.

Kejriwal is said to have denied the claim by N D Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP and National Treasurer of AAP, who stated in a statement to the ED that Kejriwal was "overall in charge" of the party and its election expenses. Kejriwal reportedly stated that he had little knowledge about the financial affairs or the pattern of AAP's election funding.