Delhi excise policy case | Rouse Avenue Court dismisses Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail; extends judicial custody till June 19
Delhi excise policy case | The Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday dismissed the interim bail plea moved by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking 7 days bail citing medical reasons in excise policy money laundering case.
While dismissing the plea, the court directed the Tihar Jail Authorities to conduct all required medical tests and avail treatment for the applicant, Arvind Kejriwal. Meanwhile, the Court also extended his judicial custody until June 19, 2024. Arvind Kejriwal was produced through virtual mode before the court.
In compliance with Supreme Court directions, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has surrendered himself before the Tihar Jail on June 2, 2024.
The same court on June 1, had kept the order reserved on the bail plea moved by Arvind Kejriwal.
During arguments, Senior Advocate N Hariharan, who appeared for Kejriwal, submitted that "the interim bail was for the purpose of campaigning for my party, which is a national party...I am out for 20 days and had I not done it, you would've said he didn't campaign and fell ill. It was a lot of stress due to the campaigning, and you know that stress is an aggravator of diabetes. What was alarming was that KETO levels rose in the urine. The aspect of concern is high level of sugar and the keto numbers."
Appearing for Enforcement Directorate (ED), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju submitted that there are several suppressions of facts, including health conditions. During preliminary objections, ED lawyers stated that we have objections to filing of interim bail as well. This court cannot modify the Superior Court order. He's on interim bail because the SC granted, what he is asking here is an extension of Supreme Court order.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Arvind Kejriwal's plea for a one-week extension of interim bail, arguing that it should be dismissed due to suppression of facts. The Supreme Court had allowed Kejriwal to file for regular bail but did not grant permission for an extension of interim bail. The ED highlighted that Kejriwal claimed he needed seven days for medical tests, but instead, he was traveling. They noted that his medical tests would take only an hour and alleged he falsely claimed to have lost weight.
Kejriwal recently filed two separate bail applications, with his regular bail plea scheduled for a hearing on June 7, 2024. Earlier, the Supreme Court denied his plea for an interim bail extension, stating it was not maintainable as he was given the liberty to seek regular bail in the trial court.
The Supreme Court had granted him interim bail on May 10, requiring him to surrender on June 2. Kejriwal had appealed against his arrest by the ED, arguing it was politically motivated. The High Court had previously dismissed his plea, citing his repeated absence from ED summons as justification for his arrest. Kejriwal was initially arrested on March 21 in a money laundering probe related to the Delhi excise policy.
- With inputs from agencies
