Excise policy scam case: Delhi court on Thursday sought the Enforcement Directorate's reply by Saturday (June 1) on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's regular bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. The hearing is scheduled to resume on June 1 and the court has issued a notice to the ED to respond to the matter.
Kejriwal has also filed an application for interim bail on health grounds along with regular bail.
Assistant Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), responded to Kejriwal's petition by stating, "I have just received a copy, I need time to file a reply." Raju highlighted Kejriwal's active campaigning in Punjab, emphasizing that his health hasn't hindered his participation. Raju also pointed out Kejriwal's vigorous campaigning for his party and suggested that bail shouldn't be granted considering his conduct.
Supreme Court rejects plea for extension of interim bail
Kejriwal moved Delhi court a day after the Supreme Court had rejected his plea for the extension of his interim bail plea by seven days on medical grounds. During the hearing, the top court stated that since a verdict on the challenge to the arrest is already reserved, Kejriwal's plea for an extension of interim bail is unrelated to the main petition. As the top court allowed him to move to the trial court for regular bail, this application is not maintainable.
Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief had got interim bail from Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta on May 10 and was asked to surrender to Tihar jail on June 2.
Kejriwal is out on interim bail
After being released from jail on May 10, Kejriwal has been involved in campaigning for the I.N.D.I.A bloc for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. The bail is applicable till June 1 and the Delhi CM has to surrender to authorities on June 2. He has been allowed to participate in the poll campaigning but can not attend his office as Chief Minister. Imposing certain conditions while granting Kejriwal interim bail, the apex court said he would not interact with any of the witnesses or have access to any official files connected with the case.
Delhi excise policy scam case
The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Also Read: Supreme Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea seeking 7-day extension of interim bail
