Supreme Court grants interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal until June 1 in excise policy case
- In Reports
- 03:08 PM, May 10, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until June 1. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged excise policy scam.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, alongside Justice Dipankar Datta, stated orally, "We are passing an order giving him interim release till June 1, 2024." The court added that it would upload its order. The bench clarified that Kejriwal would need to surrender upon the expiry of the interim bail term.
Upon the bench's consideration of the case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, raised a new concern, stating, "Now we have been approached by Amritpal Singh. That’s a concern." Singh, the chief of the Waris Punjab De outfit, is presently detained at Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act. In response, Justice Khanna remarked, "That’s something entirely different. You can’t compare."
Mehta expressed his inability to locate any precedent that could guide the court regarding the release of an individual for campaigning. However, Justice Khanna suggested avoiding a rigid approach in such matters, stating, "Let’s not put it into a simple straightjacket like that."
Mehta noted that the case was registered in August 2022, and Kejriwal's arrest occurred in March 2024, approximately one and a half years later. He argued that a difference of twenty-one days should not be significant.
ED is set to name the Aam Aadmi Party as the accused in a new chargesheet related to the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case. This marks the first instance of a national party being implicated in a corruption case. Additionally, the ED plans to seize additional assets in connection with the case filed in 2022.
ED plans to name Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor, along with other individuals, including K Kavitha, in a forthcoming chargesheet related to the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21, while Kavitha was taken into custody on March 15. The chargesheet will be filed after the Supreme Court hearing concludes. If the hearing extends, the filing is expected tomorrow.
A prosecution complaint has been prepared against Arvind Kejriwal, K Kavitha, and others in the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case. The ED may file it within the next 4-5 days. Charges include money laundering under PMLA sections 45 and 44(1).
This will be the seventh chargesheet in the case, which has seen 18 arrests, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. Sanjay Singh was recently granted bail. AAP sources claim it's a BJP tactic to discredit Kejriwal.
The ED is expected to charge Kejriwal with "non-cooperation" and being "vicariously" liable for AAP's offence. They allege he was responsible for funds used in elections. The agency calls him the "kingpin" of the Delhi excise scam, alleging collusion with Delhi ministers, AAP leaders, and others. Rs 45 crore of alleged kickbacks were purportedly used for the AAP's Goa campaign.
Image source: PTI
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