Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, arrested in connection with a money laundering case, has been sent to Enforcement Directorate's custody till June 9.
Jain, 57, is the minister for health, industries, power, home, urban development and water in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.
Special Judge Geetanjli Goel remanded Jain in ED's custody, noting that his custodial interrogation was required to unearth the larger conspiracy.
The agency had sought 14-day custody of the minister saying "There is a chequered trail of money. We don't know if the money was his or if he was laundering money for someone else. We need to see if there are other money trails."
However, the minister's lawyer, N. Hariharan contented that there was no evidence against Jain.
The minister will be allowed to have Jain food in prison, during the period of custody. However, the court refused to entertain his request to be allowed to visit a temple daily.
The ED had on Monday arrested the Delhi health minister under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kejriwal had claimed that the case against Jain is "completely fake and politically motivated." "I have studied the case against Jain. It is completely fake and motivated by political reasons. We have faith in the judiciary. Jain is following the path of truth, and he will come out clean," the chief minister told reporters.
