New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha polls-2024, the Supreme Court is deliberating on the potential grant of interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, allowing him to engage in campaign activities. A bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta announced today that it will review the interim bail plea on Tuesday, May 7, urging both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Kejriwal's counsel to be prepared.
Arvind Kejriwal was apprehended by ED officials on March 21 in connection with alleged irregularities related to the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy. Having found no reprieve from lower courts, Kejriwal has turned to the Supreme Court for recourse. He becomes the third high-ranking AAP official to face charges in this corruption case, following Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, with the latter currently out on bail.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, asserted today that there exists no substantial evidence against the Delhi Chief Minister and challenged the legality of his arrest.
Singhvi said, "They say he is the brain behind AAP... he is involved in demand of kickbacks. There is no direct evidence."
Addressing the court, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju defended the decision to arrest Kejriwal, emphasizing that it was not solely based on the investigating officer's discretion but was also affirmed by a special judge. He said a review petition was filed in the Delhi High Court, but the court declined to intervene after reviewing the documentation.
Acknowledging the complexity of the case and its potential for protracted examination, the bench hinted at the possibility of interim bail, particularly in light of the ongoing elections. Discussions on potential bail conditions are slated for Tuesday May 7, with the court emphasizing the need for transparency to avoid surprises for either party.
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