Arvind Kejriwal Granted Bail By Rouse Avenue Court In Delhi Excise Policy Case

The Rouse Avenue Court today granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy case, allowing his bail application on a bond of Rs 1 lakh. 

File Photo Of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Source : PTI Images

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday granted bail by the Rouse Avenue court in the money laundering case related to the now-defunct excise policy. The court allowed Kejriwal's bail application on a bond of Rs 1 Lakh. His lawyers argued that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had no evidence against him. 

The central probing agency had requested the court to grant 48 hours for Kejriwal to sign the bail bond, indicating their intention to challenge the order in a higher court. News agency ANI citing sources has reported that the ED would move Delhi High Court on Friday morning against the trial court's judgement.

However, the judge clarified that there would be no stay on the bail order, directing the bail bond to be presented before the Duty judge on the following day. 

As the bail order had to reach the jail first, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo is likely to be released from the jail tomorrow, June 21. His lawyers contended that the ED's case against Kejriwal was primarily based on statements from persons who had turned approvers in the case. 

The hearing spanned two days, during which Judge Niyay Bindu of the Rouse Avenue Court heard arguments from both sides before reserving orders on Thursday. 

Opposing Kejriwal's bail plea, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju presented the ED's case, highlighting the documentary evidence linking funds allegedly used for the Chief Minister's hotel stay in Goa during the state assembly elections. Raju stated that these funds, managed by co-accused Chanpreet Singh, were traced through cash transactions and call records. Raju, based on these evidence, suggested direct involvement in financial irregularities. 

"The ED's investigation is grounded in concrete evidence, not mere conjecture," Raju said during the proceedings. 

The Delhi CM's legal team countries these claims, arguing for his bail on grounds of procedural fairness and lack of substantial evidence directly implicating Arvind Kejriwal in any wrongdoing related to the excise policy.

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