Delhi High Court to Rule on Kejriwal's Bail in Excise Scam Investigation

The Delhi High Court will announce its verdict on the Enforcement Directorate's plea to stay the trial court order granting bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case arising from the alleged excise scam. Kejriwal's defense argues that staying the bail would effectively nullify it.

The Delhi High Court will deliver its verdict on Tuesday regarding the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) request to halt the trial court's order that granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The case originates from allegations of money laundering connected to the excise scam.

The ruling, scheduled for 2:30 p.m., comes after Kejriwal defended the trial court's decision in a written submission, insisting that no harm would come to the ED if he is released at this stage. Kejriwal argued that nullifying the bail would effectively uphold the ED's plea for cancellation.

A vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain had reserved the order on June 21 after the ED challenged the trial court. The trial court had granted bail on June 20, with conditions, including a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and no interference with the investigation. The ED termed the trial court's order as biased and based on irrelevant facts.

In a note filed on Monday, the ED stated that the trial court’s decision did not consider evidence of Kejriwal's alleged involvement in money laundering. Kejriwal countered by labeling the ED’s claims as misleading and unfounded. He insisted the trial court's bail order was well-reasoned, with a proper application of judicial mind. He stressed that being a political figure opposed to the central government shouldn’t be a ground to fabricate charges against him.

Special Judge Niyay Bindu had granted bail to Kejriwal on June 20, citing the ED's failure to produce direct evidence linking him to the crime. The high court put the bail order on hold on June 21 and will issue a concluding decision shortly. Kejriwal has also approached the Supreme Court against the interim stay on his bail, with a hearing set for June 26.