Delhi High Court Stays Bail Granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Excise Policy Case
Desk Report, June 25, 2024: In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has issued a stay on the regular bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by a lower court in the excise policy case. The decision came in response to an appeal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which argued that the trial court had not adequately considered the evidence it presented.
Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, presiding over the case, endorsed the Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju’s argument that the central agency was not afforded sufficient opportunity to present its case against Mr. Kejriwal. Consequently, the High Court granted the ED’s application, thereby suspending the implementation of the lower court’s bail order.
The controversy stems from a ruling by Special Judge Niyay Bindu of Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on June 20, wherein Mr. Kejriwal was granted bail upon furnishing a bail bond of ₹1 lakh. Judge Bindu had noted the ED’s failure to substantiate direct evidence linking the Chief Minister to the alleged proceeds of the crime.
Swiftly following this decision, the ED moved the High Court, asserting that the trial court’s ruling was unjustifiable and grounded in irrelevant considerations. Responding to the ED’s plea, the High Court swiftly intervened by imposing an interim stay on Mr. Kejriwal’s release and reserving its final judgment pending a thorough examination of the case records.
Mr. Kejriwal, contesting what he perceived as an unwarranted restriction on his personal freedom, promptly approached the Supreme Court. However, the apex court deferred immediate intervention and decided to await the outcome of the High Court’s final deliberations on June 26. The Supreme Court acknowledged the unusual nature of the situation, particularly concerning the reservation of orders in a case that directly impacts personal liberty.
This legal saga traces back to Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest by the ED on March 21, with the agency alleging his pivotal role in the purported Delhi Excise policy scam. Following weeks of incarceration, he was granted temporary release by the Supreme Court on May 10 to engage in electoral campaigning. However, subsequent pleas for further relief were denied, leading to his return to custody on June 2.
The unfolding judicial proceedings underscore the gravity of allegations leveled against the Delhi Chief Minister, intertwining legal intricacies with broader implications for governmental accountability and due process.
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