The Delhi High Court has placed a final stay on a bail order granted by a trial court to Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, who is embroiled in a money laundering case related to a liquor policy excise scam. Kejriwal’s bail was initially approved by the trial court on June 20, contingent upon a bail bond of INR 100,000. However, the decision has been challenged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), leading to the high court’s intervention. Read more.
Presiding over the case, Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain critiqued the trial court for not adequately appreciating the materials put forth by the ED. Justice Jain emphasized the importance of following legal procedures when depriving a citizen of personal liberty, a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. He noted that Kejriwal had not cooperated with the investigation despite receiving nine summons, leading to his arrest on March 21, 2024.
The Supreme Court had previously granted Kejriwal interim bail on June 10, 2024, citing the ongoing 18th Lok Sabha elections rather than the merits of the investigation. The high court promptly issued an interim stay on the trial court’s decision shortly after it was made, citing the ED’s urgent appeal. This interim stay was subsequently challenged by Kejriwal before the Supreme Court, which remarked upon the unusual nature of such an interim order. Court document.
Kejriwal, leading the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been accused by the ED of money laundering via the Excise Policy 2021-22, which his government allegedly implemented to facilitate the scam. His arrest and subsequent legal battles are likely to impact both his political career and the broader political landscape in India. Details on the case.