Breaking: Arvind Kejriwal Granted Bail By A Delhi Court In The Excise Policy Case

BY: THE LEX TIMES

On Thursday, a Delhi Court granted bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam. The decision was made by Vacation Judge Nyay Bindu of Rouse Avenue Courts after previously reserving the order earlier in the day.

Additionally, the court approved Kejriwal’s request to allow his wife to participate in the proceedings via virtual mode when he is examined by the medical board. Kejriwal had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, and the Supreme Court granted him interim bail until June 1 due to the general elections. He surrendered the day after the interim bail period ended.

ASG SV Raju, representing the ED, argued that co-accused Chanpreet Singh received significant cash payments from entrepreneurs and covered hotel expenses for Kejriwal. He emphasized that the ED has substantial evidence, asserting that Kejriwal’s refusal to provide his phone password warranted drawing an adverse inference against him, which could be grounds for denying bail.

ASG also noted that co-accused Vijay Nair, who had no official role in framing the excise policy, acted as a middleman for Kejriwal, establishing their connection.

In response, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, representing Kejriwal, argued that Kejriwal is not an accused in the CBI case and was only called as a witness. He questioned the ED’s motives and timing, suggesting political influence behind Kejriwal’s arrest. Chaudhari dismissed the ED’s evidence as speculative, pointing out that chats and documents mentioned by the ED did not indicate any wrongdoing by Kejriwal.

Chaudhari further contested the claims of a connection between Vijay Nair and Kejriwal, asserting that there was no proof of Kejriwal instructing Nair to engage in illegal activities.

Recently, Kejriwal’s request for interim bail on medical grounds was denied by the court, citing his active participation in election campaigns as evidence against his claim of serious health issues. The ED had also filed a supplementary chargesheet naming Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party as accused in the money laundering case.

The Delhi High Court had previously dismissed Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest, with the court accepting the ED’s evidence and witness statements implicating Kejriwal in receiving money for Goa elections. Other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are also accused in the case, with Singh having been granted bail by the Supreme Court.

The ED has accused Kejriwal of being the main orchestrator of the Delhi excise scam, involving over Rs. 100 crores. The agency claims that the excise policy was manipulated to benefit certain private companies, with a conspiracy coordinated by Vijay Nair and other individuals on behalf of Kejriwal and Sisodia.