Arvind Kejriwal Bail: Kapil Sibal Asks How 'BJP's Hardik Patel Got Bail As Convict To Fight Elections?'

Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on Friday, Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal rebuked the latest affidavit filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposing interim bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Kapil Sibal said that if Patel as a convict can be allowed, why can't Kejriwal who is just an accused be allowed to campaign. ( Image Source :PTI )

Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on Friday, Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal rebuked the latest affidavit filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposing interim bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who has been accused in the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy scam.

Speaking to ANI, Sibal said, "Yesterday, ED presented its side before the Supreme Court and said that Arvind Kejriwal should not be granted interim bail because the right to campaign is a legal right, not a Constitutional right...It is correct. But the law also provides that if someone has been awarded punishment and court says that they are staying the punishment, he can take part in campaigning...Ask them how Hardik Patel contested the election..."

Sibal questioned what kind of politics the ED was doing and said that if Patel as a convict can be allowed, why can't Kejriwal who is just and accused be allowed to campaign.

 

Sibal cited Hardik Patel's example and said that he was convicted and the court had stayed it. "Hardik approached the Supreme Court and the Court stayed it. Hardik contested the election and joined the BJP. Someone, against whom you have evidence and punishment, has the right (to campaign) if Court stays it. But someone who is just an accused can't be given the stay...What kind of politics is ED doing?..."

 

The Supreme Court is all set to resume hearing Arvind Kejriwal's interim bail plea today.

 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's legal team on Thursday registered a complaint with the Supreme Court's registry against the Enforcement Directorate's affidavit opposing his interim bail. ED on Thursday morning filed an affidavit in the top court just a day before the hearing was to resume on Kejriwal's interim bail. 

The AAP chief has filed a complaint alleging that ED's affidavit violates legal process as it was filed without the top court's permission and after the completion of the hearing, just a day before the Supreme Court was to pass verdict on his interim bail. 

ED in its fresh affidavit before the Supreme Court has opposed interim bail for Kejriwal saying that the right to campaign in polls is neither fundamental nor constitutional. The central agency further contended that Kejriwal is not contesting Lok Sabha polls and no political leader has ever been given interim bail for election campaigning.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing the interim bail plea. On Wednesday, the Justice Sanjiv Khanna while presiding over another case said that Kejriwal's plea will be taken up on Friday and the court is inclined to pass an order on the same day.

The apex court on Tuesday said that in case it grants interim bail to Kejriwal it does not want him to perform any official duty as the Chief Minister. Following this, Arvind Kejriwal told the Supreme Court today that he is willing to furnish an undertaking stating that he will not sign any official files if released on interim bail.