Delhi Excise Policy Case: SC to deliver judgment on Arvind Kejriwal's plea against arrest today
Delhi Excise Policy Case: The Supreme Court on Friday to deliver its judgment on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest and subsequent remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) linked to the alleged excise policy scam.
A bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna will deliver the verdict on July 12.
The apex court had reserved the verdict on Kejriwal's plea on May 17.
During a hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju informed the Supreme Court that there was evidence of funds being transferred to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) through hawala channels. He mentioned that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) found chats between Arvind Kejriwal and hawala operators related to the alleged crime proceeds. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that the evidence cited by ED to justify Kejriwal’s arrest was not available at the time of his arrest.
On May 10, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy but restricted him from visiting the Chief Minister's office and the Delhi Secretariat. The court directed Kejriwal to surrender on June 2, which he did. The Supreme Court’s judgment will address Kejriwal’s appeal against a Delhi High Court decision that dismissed his plea against the ED's arrest and remand in the excise policy case.
Kejriwal argued that his arrest, following the announcement of the General Elections, was politically motivated. On April 9, the High Court rejected his plea for release and his claim of political vendetta, citing his repeated absence from ED summons as justification for his arrest.
Kejriwal was arrested by ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
- With inputs from agencies
