Kejriwal Takes Bail Battle to Supreme Court Amid Excise Scam Controversy

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's interim stay on his bail in a money laundering case related to the excise scam. The court had reserved its order for July 10 after the Enforcement Directorate's appeal. The excise policy was alleged to have been manipulated.

Embattled Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has escalated his legal fight to the Supreme Court, challenging the Delhi High Court's interim stay on his bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam.

One of Kejriwal's lawyers confirmed that they would seek an urgent hearing on Monday for the petition.

The Delhi High Court delayed Kejriwal's release on Friday, post the trial court's bail grant on June 20. Kejriwal, who has been in Tihar jail since March 21, would have been released if not for the interim stay ordered by the high court.

The high court had stated that the trial court's order would remain stayed pending further review, asking all parties to submit written statements by June 24, with the next hearing set for July 10.

The court is reviewing the entire case record, issuing notice to Kejriwal in response to the Enforcement Directorate's plea against the trial court's order. Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju described the trial court's decision as 'perverse' and 'biased,' arguing that the findings were based on irrelevant facts, and the ED was not given sufficient opportunity to present its case.

Senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhari, representing Kejriwal, countered that the ED had ample time to argue and that the liberties protected under Article 21 of the Constitution seemed to be ignored by the agency.

Raju claimed that Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) necessitates a fair chance for the public prosecutor, which he argued was not granted. He also said the trial court dismissed his detailed reply as overly cumbersome.

Singhvi highlighted that the ED had a prolonged debate lasting three hours and 45 minutes before the judge.

The trial court's bail order noted that the ED did not provide direct evidence linking Kejriwal to the proceeds of the excise policy deemed corrupt and scrapped in 2022.

The ED and CBI allege that irregularities and unjust favours marked the policy's modification and implementation.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)