New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday, reserved its verdict on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's challenge to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case related to an alleged excise scam. However, the court granted Kejriwal the liberty to seek regular bail from the trial court.
Following presentations by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represented Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Enforcement Directorate, respectively, a bench composed of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta reserved its judgment, reported PTI.
“Arguments heard. Judgment reserved. Notwithstanding the same, and without prejudice to rights and contentions, the appellant can move the trial court for grant of bail in accordance with law,” the bench said in its order.
The Supreme Court meticulously reviewed the case files and statements of witnesses and accused recorded after October 30, 2023, the day senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia's bail plea was rejected. Sisodia is an accused in both the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged scam.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in a money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor policy matter, following which the apex court granted him interim bail from May 10 to June 1 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections. However, it ordered him to surrender on June 2 and return to jail.
The court, however, barred Kejriwal from visiting his office or the Delhi secretariat, and signing official files unless absolutely necessary for obtaining the lieutenant governor's approval.
The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which has now been scrapped.
Meanwhile, the ED has filed a chargesheet against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The chargesheet pertains to their alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor policy scam case.