Arvind Kejriwal Arrest: No Immediate Relief For Delhi CM, SC Likely To Hear Case In Afternoon

A bench of justice Sanjiv Khanna, Bela M Trivedi and MM Sundresh will likely hear Arvind Kejriwal's plea. 

Supreme Court.

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The Supreme Court is expected to hold a special hearing for a plea filled by the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with excise policy scam on Friday afternoon. A bench of justice Sanjiv Khanna, Bela M Trivedi and MM Sundresh will likely hear Arvind Kejriwal's plea. 

Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi raised the matter before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday morning for urgent hearing. The CJI informed Singhvi that the Special Bench, headed by Justice Khanna, has convened in Court 2 and directed Singhvi to bring up the matter before Justice Khanna. The CJI instructed Singhvi to inform Justice Khanna that the case has been assigned to Court 2 for immediate consideration.

It should be noted that at that time, the Special Bench consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela Trivedi were hearing the plea of BRS leader K Kavitha against her arrest by the ED in the liquor policy case.

However, when Singhvi arrived at Court 2, the Special Bench session had concluded, and the regular bench of Justices Khanna and Dipankar Datta had assembled. When Singhvi raised the matter, Justice Khanna stated that it would need to be presented before the 3-judge Special Bench. To which, Singhvi replied: "This is a writ but we are not challenging any provision of PMLA." 

"There seems to be a confusion, I do not want to break protocol," Justice Khanna stated. Justice Khanna told Singhvi that the Special Bench would convene later today after addressing the matters scheduled for the regular bench.

Earlier, while seeking an urgent midnight hearing, CM Arvind Kejriwal had filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the arrest by the central probe agnecy last night following his arrest.