Amidst the Lok Sabha Elections of 2024, the Supreme Court is currently reviewing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail request on May 7. Due to the recent polls, the court has indicated its willingness to accept interim bail for the AAP leader. Since March 21, Kejriwal has been in custody and is presently held in Tihar Jail under judicial custody, following his arrest in connection with a money laundering case.
Last week, the court also expressed openness to considering interim bail for the AAP supremo, stating, “We may grant or we may not grant.”
A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta commences the proceedings ,Today, May 7, by taking into consideration the plea of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader.
During the previous hearing, May 3, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, expressed opposition to Mr Kejriwal’s bail, citing statements made by AAP leader Sanjay Singh following his release on bail in a related case. The ASG highlighted that Kejriwal had only challenged his arrest and had not filed any application for the bail.
To which the court said, “We are not commenting on it either way. We are just saying we will hear on interim bail and not saying we will grant interim bail. We may or may not grant interim bail.”
Meanwhile, the bench also expresses its caution on accepting Kejriwal’s argument that a political party will not come under section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as per the provisions.
The Political Party, AAP’s name came to the centre stage of the case because it was alleged that the fund raised from the scam is being used in the party’s Goa election campaign.
Below are the highlights on the hearings of the case
- The Supreme Court stated that it will consider scheduling a hearing for the Arvind Kejriwal case. They mentioned they need some time to review and decide when they can accommodate it. Justice Khanna mentioned they might aim to conclude the matter in a couple of days or schedule it for the following week.
- The court said, we have the authority to grant temporary release on bail. After hearing arguments from both parties, we won’t consider factors like his political status or the timing of elections. Our decision won’t be influenced by his profession as a politician.
- Reportedly the court said, Arvind Kejriwal is “not a habitual offender”, as it heard arguments for interim bail for the Delhi Chief Minister, who is currently in the city’s Tihar Jail on money laundering charges linked to the now-scrapped liquor excise policy. The top court – which is hearing the larger matter of Mr Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest – had earlier said it would consider bail for the AAP leader to allow him to campaign for his party in the ongoing Lok Sabha election. Delhi – which has seven Lok Sabha seats, all of which were won by the BJP in the last election – votes in a single phase on May 25.
- Court bench rises without pronouncing order on grant of interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal
