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

The Supreme Court is set to deliver its judgment on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy case. The verdict, reserved since May 17, will be announced on July 12 by a bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

The Supreme Court is poised to announce its judgment on Friday regarding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's appeal against his arrest and subsequent remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an excise policy case. The verdict will be delivered on July 12 by a bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

The apex court had reserved its decision on Kejriwal's plea on May 17. During the hearings, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju informed the court of alleged evidence indicating money transfers to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) through hawala channels. He also stated that the ED had uncovered chats between Kejriwal and hawala operators related to the purported proceeds of crime.

Representing Kejriwal, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the evidence now presented by the ED did not exist at the time of his client’s arrest. On May 10, the top court granted Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 with the condition that he avoid visiting the Chief Minister's Office and the Delhi Secretariat, and ordered him to surrender by June 2, which he did.

Kejriwal appealed to the Supreme Court after his plea against the ED's arrest and remand was dismissed by the Delhi High Court. He claimed his arrest was driven by external motivations following the announcement of the General Elections. The High Court dismissed his jail release plea on April 9, asserting that his repeated absence from ED summons indicated non-cooperation, rather than an entitlement to special privileges as Chief Minister.

Kejriwal was taken into custody by the ED on March 21 concerning a money laundering investigation tied to alleged irregularities in Delhi's now-canceled 2021-22 excise policy. (ANI)