The Supreme Court is anticipated to announce its decision regarding interim bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today. Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March in relation to a money laundering case associated with the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy.
Following the hearing of Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail plea on May 7, the Supreme Court had reserved its order.
Arvind Kejriwal’s plea contests his arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case and seeks interim bail to facilitate his participation in ongoing Lok Sabha election campaigns. Currently incarcerated in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody has been extended until May 20 by a court ruling on Tuesday.
The ED has opposed Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail, contending that the right to campaign for elections is not a fundamental right. The agency cited precedents where political leaders were not granted interim bail for campaigning if they were not contesting candidates.
In response, Arvind Kejriwal’s legal team raised objections, highlighting procedural irregularities in the submission of the ED’s affidavit. They criticized the agency for disregarding legal procedures and issuing the affidavit without the Supreme Court’s approval.
Moreover, the ED is poised to file its first chargesheet against Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, marking his formal inclusion as an accused.
Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest stemmed from allegations by the ED, which accused him of orchestrating the ‘scam’ and directly soliciting kickbacks from liquor barons. The legal battle underscores the complexity of the case and its political implications.
The Supreme Court’s forthcoming verdict holds significant ramifications for Arvind Kejriwal’s legal standing and political future.
