Supreme Court to Rule on Kejriwal's Arrest in Excise Policy Case

The Supreme Court is set to deliver its judgment on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy case. Kejriwal's plea, challenging his arrest and remand, will be decided by a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna on July 12.

The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment on Friday concerning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest and subsequent remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an excise policy case. The verdict will be pronounced by a bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna on July 12.

The apex court had reserved its ruling on Kejriwal's plea on May 17. During the hearings, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju asserted that there was evidence of money being funneled to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) via hawala channels.

Raju further claimed that the ED had uncovered chats between Kejriwal and hawala operators concerning the alleged proceeds of crime. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that the evidence cited by the ED to justify the Chief Minister's arrest was not available at the time of his detention.

The top court had granted Kejriwal interim bail on May 10, valid until June 1, in the money laundering case associated with the Delhi excise policy. However, it prohibited him from visiting the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat. The bench ordered Kejriwal to surrender on June 2, which he complied with.

The Supreme Court's judgment stems from Kejriwal's appeal against a Delhi High Court decision that dismissed his plea challenging his arrest and remand by the ED. Kejriwal argued that his arrest, occurring after the announcement of the General Elections, was driven by ulterior motives.

On April 9, the High Court rejected Kejriwal's plea for release from jail, dismissing his claims of political vendetta linked to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The High Court noted Kejriwal's absence from nine ED summons over a six-month period, suggesting his arrest was a foreseeable result of his non-cooperation.

Kejriwal was taken into ED custody on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the now-canceled Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. (ANI)