The Apex Court will deliver its order on granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam on May 10.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who headed the Bench which heard Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest in the case, said, “We will pronounce the interim order (on interim bail) on Friday. The main matter related to the challenge to arrest will also be taken on the same day.”
Justice Khanna, who was sitting in a different combination with Justices M.M. Sundresh & Bela M Trivedi, made the remark after Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, who was appearing for the Centre in a matter related to Goods & Services Tax, sought clarification on the listing of Kejriwal's plea.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody.
On May 7, the Bench, also comprising Justice Dipankar Datta, had reserved its verdict on interim bail to the AAP leader.
The 2-Judge Bench had risen without pronouncing order on granting Arvind Kejriwal interim bail to enable him to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.
The Bench had reserved its decision after hearing the arguments put forth by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi & Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, who appeared for Mr. Kejriwal & the Enforcement Directorate, respectively.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who also appeared for the probe agency, had staunchly opposed showing any leniency to Mr. Kejriwal on account of the Lok Sabha polls & said granting interim bail to the AAP national convenor would amount to creating a separate class for politicians.
The Bench has divided the hearing on Mr. Kejriwal’s petition against his arrest into 2 parts.
His main petition challenges his arrest by the ED & seeks it to be declared as illegal, while the second aspect pertains to grant of interim bail keeping in mind the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
The court reserved the order on the issue of grant of interim bail.
On Tuesday, a Delhi court has extended Mr. Kejriwal's judicial custody in the money laundering case till May 20.
The Delhi High Court had on April 9 upheld Mr. Kejriwal's arrest, saying there was no illegality & the ED was left with "little option" after he skipped repeated summonses & refused to join the investigation.
The matter relates to alleged corruption & money laundering in the formulation & execution of the Delhi Govt's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.
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