In a significant development for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court has granted him interim bail related to a money laundering case connected to the controversial excise policy.
This ruling, announced on Friday, provides a temporary reprieve for Kejriwal as legal proceedings continue.
The Supreme Court bench, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, referred Kejriwal’s appeal against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a larger bench for further examination of the legal questions involved.
However, it’s important to note that Kejriwal remains in custody due to an earlier arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 26 June.
On 17 May, the bench had reserved its verdict regarding Kejriwal’s claims that the ED must establish a compelling reason for his arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court had temporarily released Kejriwal on a 21-day bail until 1 June, taking into account the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In a related development, a Delhi court recently acknowledged a supplementary prosecution complaint filed by the ED against Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja issued a production warrant for Kejriwal, requiring his appearance in court on 12 July.
Adding to the legal complexities, the Delhi High Court has stayed a trial court’s previous order that had granted bail to Kejriwal, stating that the initial court did not adequately consider the relevant documents and arguments.
Currently, Kejriwal has separate petitions pending before the Delhi High Court, seeking bail and contesting his arrest by the CBI in relation to the alleged liquor policy scandal.
As the situation unfolds, the political and legal ramifications of this case continue to attract significant attention.
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