Supreme Court's decision on Arvind Kejriwal's interim bail likely on May 10?
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated that it might issue a decision on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's interim bail petition on May 10, as per reports from a news agency. Justice Sanjiv Khanna conveyed this during a hearing, following the court's session on Tuesday where it reserved the order on Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea. During the proceedings, the apex court expressed its reluctance to allow Arvind Kejriwal to resume his official duties if granted interim bail, particularly in light of the ongoing elections.
Arvind Kejriwal's legal representative, Abhishek Singhvi, assured the Supreme Court that Arvind Kejriwal would refrain from signing any official documents if released on interim bail, as long as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi did not reject decisions solely due to the absence of his signature. However, the court expressed its concern about potential conflicts of interest if Kejriwal were to resume his official duties while on bail.
The Bench emphasized that granting interim bail should not lead to Kejriwal's interference in governmental affairs.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea, asserting that leniency should not be extended to him merely because of the ongoing elections. The ED argued that granting interim bail to Kejriwal would set a precedent of creating a separate class for politicians. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, pointed out that there are approximately 5,000 cases involving MPs pending across the country, raising questions about whether all of them should be released on bail. He said individuals from various professions, such as agriculturists, also faced important responsibilities and should not be considered less important than politicians.
The Bench reiterated that its focus was not on whether the case involved a politician but rather on whether there were exceptional circumstances warranting bail. The impending elections were taken into consideration, but the court underscored the need to assess each case individually to determine if bail was justified.
- With inputs from agencies
