Delhi court to hear Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail plea today

A Delhi court is set to hear on Saturday an application by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking interim bail for a week on medical grounds in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja had on May 30 directed the ED to file its response to Kejriwal’s plea by June 1, when his interim bail, granted by the Supreme Court, ends.

The court also directed the ED to file its response by June 7 to Kejriwal’s plea for regular bail in the case.

The Supreme Court registry on Wednesday refused urgent listing of Kejriwal’s plea seeking a seven-day extension of his interim bail for medical tests, stating that since he was permitted to move the trial court for regular bail, the plea was not maintainable.

Also Read: SC registry refuses Kejriwal’s plea for urgent hearing on interim bail extension

The AAP leader sought an extension of his interim bail to undergo various medical tests, including a PET-CT scan, due to “sudden and unexplained weight loss coupled with high ketone levels,” indicating potential kidney, serious cardiac ailments, and even cancer.

The top court had on May 10 granted a 21-day interim bail to the chief minister to enable him to campaign during the Lok Sabha polls.

It had directed him to surrender on June 2, a day after the last phase of the seven-phase poll concludes.

Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate had opposed his interim bail, claiming there was no precedent of a person getting released to campaign for elections.

This is the first time since Kejriwal’s arrest in the case on March 21 that he has applied for a regular bail.

The CBI and ED have accused AAP leaders of accepting kickbacks from a group of businessmen and politicians in return for crafting a policy favourable to the latter’s interest. The agencies claim a significant chunk of the alleged kickbacks was funnelled into the party’s election campaign for the Goa assembly polls.

The liquor policy was scrapped in 2022 after Delhi’s lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into the alleged scam.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested after he skipped nine summonses sent by the Enforcement Directorate.  (With inputs from PTI)