The Supreme Court may consider the question of granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Liquor Policy case at a later date. In view of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court will consider the possibility of granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal.
A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta fixed the next hearing for Tuesday, May 7 and said it will hear the interim bail plea on the next date. Additional Solicitor General S.V. A bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna from Raju said that in view of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, be ready on the question of interim release of the ‘AAP’ leader. Investigation agency Enforcement Directorate and Arvind Kejriwal’s counsel have been asked by the court to be ready for Tuesday, May 7.
The Supreme Court asked the Enforcement Directorate that the terms of the interim bail should be told in the next hearing. We have yet to decide whether to grant interim bail or not.
On the question of interim bail, the bench has clearly told both parties to be prepared. The Supreme Court said that we will hold the next hearing on Tuesday at 10.30 am. The final hearing in the case is likely to be lengthy. The top court said, if the result of the hearing takes more time then we can consider the question of interim bail due to the Lok Sabha elections.
Apart from this, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju Se Supreme Court asked whether Kejriwal can sign official files while in custody due to his position? Justice Sanjiv Khanna from ED said that today we can’t say anything, but we can definitely ask, so be ready for the next hearing day.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing on behalf of Kejriwal, said during the hearing that elections are due in Delhi on May 26 and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21, soon after the election was announced. He said that there is no evidence against the Delhi Chief Minister and he has been illegally arrested and kept in jail. He further said that Kejriwal had responded to nine summons of the ED and he cannot be arrested on the basis of non-appearance before the ED.
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on 21 March in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi’s liquor policy case (which is now over). When Kejriwal did not get relief from the lower courts, he approached the Supreme Court. Former Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were also arrested in corruption cases. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh is out on bail.
