Supreme Court to Mull Interim Bail for Kejriwal Amid Election Season, Hearing Scheduled for May 7

The Supreme Court has signaled its willingness to consider granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, in light of the upcoming elections. During a hearing on Friday, the court instructed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to be prepared to discuss this matter on Tuesday (May 7). The bench, comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, emphasized that while they may or may not grant bail, both sides should be prepared for any outcome.

The court directed the ED to propose potential conditions for Kejriwal if interim bail is granted, including whether he should continue signing files given his position as the Chief Minister. Justice Khanna emphasized the need for openness and cautioned against assuming any decision beforehand.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the ED in connection with a money laundering case related to Delhi’s former excise policy. Despite several bail pleas being rejected, Kejriwal has remained in his role as Chief Minister. Meanwhile, his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, has actively participated in the Aam Aadmi Party’s election campaigning.

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In a related development, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition challenging Kejriwal’s arrest in the money laundering case, stating that it lacked merit. The court observed that Kejriwal had the means to approach the court for appropriate legal action, and therefore, the petition was not maintainable.

The high court bench, led by acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora, ruled that the petition failed to specify the individual concerned, despite references to his political stature. The court underscored that Kejriwal’s custody was pursuant to judicial orders, which were not subject to challenge in the present petition.