- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi : The Supreme Court indicated on Wednesday that it may issue an order on May 10 regarding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail in a money laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.
Bench’s Hint at Interim Bail
As the bench, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, was concluding proceedings for the day, it informed the Enforcement Directorate counsel, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, about the possibility of passing an order on interim relief for Kejriwal on Friday.
Debate Over Interim Bail Conditions
During previous proceedings, the bench had suggested the possibility of granting interim bail to Kejriwal to enable him to campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, it also stated that if interim bail were granted, Kejriwal would be prohibited from performing any official duties as Chief Minister.
ED’s Opposition and Solicitor General’s Argument
The Enforcement Directorate opposed this condition in the Supreme Court, arguing that there should be no deviation in treatment solely because Kejriwal holds the position of Chief Minister. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta questioned whether the court was creating exceptions for politicians, emphasizing that elections occur only once every five years.
Legal Battle and High Court’s Ruling
Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had challenged a Delhi High Court judgment that dismissed his plea against arrest by the ED and his subsequent remand in the excise policy case. Kejriwal contended that his arrest following the announcement of the General Elections was motivated by extraneous considerations.
High Court’s Stance
On April 9, the High Court dismissed Kejriwal’s plea for release from jail, rejecting his argument of political vendetta amid the looming Lok Sabha elections. The High Court highlighted Kejriwal’s failure to respond to nine ED summons over six months, suggesting that his arrest was an inevitable consequence of his non-cooperation.
Kejriwal’s Arrest and Allegations
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
