NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue court on Wednesday dismissed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s interim bail plea, in which he sought a 7-day release for medical reasons in the excise policy money laundering case.
The court instructed Tihar Jail Authorities to conduct necessary medical tests and provide treatment for Kejriwal. His judicial custody has been extended until June 19, 2024.Kejriwal appeared before the court via virtual mode.
Following the Supreme Court’s directions, Kejriwal surrendered to Tihar Jail on June 2, 2024.
Previously, on June 1, the court reserved its decision on Kejriwal’s bail plea.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate N Hariharan, representing Kejriwal, argued, “The interim bail was for the purpose of campaigning for my party, which is a national party…I am out for 20 days and had I not done it, you would’ve said he didn’t campaign and fell ill. It was a lot of stress due to the campaigning, and you know that stress is an aggravator of diabetes. What was alarming was that KETO levels rose in the urine. The aspect of concern is high level of sugar and the keto numbers.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), contended that there were several factual suppressions, including those related to Kejriwal’s health. They argued that the court could not modify the superior court’s order.
ED lawyers objected to the filing of the interim bail Plea. They asserted, “He’s on interim bail because the SC granted, what he is asking here is an extension of Supreme Court order.”
They claimed the interim bail plea contained suppressed information and insisted it should be dismissed. The ED noted, “Supreme Court had granted liberty to him that he can file regular bail but the liberty to seek extension of interim bail is not granted to him. He has said that these tests require 7 days, the nature of the test has been suppressed.”
The ED also raised issues regarding the maintainability of the interim bail plea, arguing that instead of undergoing medical tests, Kejriwal had traveled extensively. They pointed out that medical tests wouldn’t exceed an hour.
Furthermore, ED pointed out discrepancies in Kejriwal’s claims, alleging he gained a kilogram instead of losing seven as claimed. They highlighted that the Registrar of the Supreme Court had passed a speaking order, which was not disclosed.
They accused Kejriwal of traveling for campaigning purposes without undergoing the medical tests.
Recently, Kejriwal’s legal team filed two separate bail applications before the court. His regular bail plea is set for hearing on June 7, 2024.
ASG SV Raju, appearing for the ED, noted earlier, “He’s campaigning in Punjab. His health did not hinder him from campaigning. Strenuous campaigning has been done. Last minute bail is being filed. His conduct doesn’t entitle him to any bail.”
Kejriwal had also approached the Supreme Court for an extension of interim bail. The Supreme Court rejected his plea on Wednesday, saying that he had the liberty to move the trial court for regular bail, rendering the plea for extension non-maintainable.
Kejriwal was granted interim bail by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta on May 10 and was asked to surrender to Tihar Jail on June 2. The bench had reserved its verdict on his challenge to the validity of his arrest by the ED in the Excise Policy money laundering case on May 17.
The Supreme Court clarified that since the order on the challenge to the arrest was already reserved, Kejriwal’s plea for an extension of interim bail had no bearing on the main petition.
On May 28, the Rouse Avenue Court reserved its order on the point of cognizance regarding the ED’s supplementary chargesheet filed against Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) related to the Excise Policy case.
The court, after hearing ED’s arguments, scheduled the pronouncement of the order on the cognizance point for June 4, 2024.
On May 17, 2024, ED officials, alongside Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Naveen Kumar Matta, filed the charge sheet in the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi.
On May 10, the Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 in the money laundering case registered by the ED concerning the Delhi excise policy. It was specified that he was not to visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat. The bench ordered Kejriwal to surrender on June 2.
The apex court was hearing Kejriwal’s appeal against a Delhi High Court judgment that dismissed his plea against the ED’s arrest and subsequent remand in the excise policy case.
In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Kejriwal argued that his arrest post the general elections announcement was “motivated by extraneous considerations.”
Earlier, on April 9, the High Court had dismissed his plea for release from jail, rejecting his claims of political vendetta amidst the looming Lok Sabha elections.
The high court pointed out that Kejriwal’s failure to attend nine ED summons over six months weakened any claims of special privilege as Chief Minister, suggesting his arrest was a natural consequence of his non-cooperation.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in relation to a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
The court instructed Tihar Jail Authorities to conduct necessary medical tests and provide treatment for Kejriwal. His judicial custody has been extended until June 19, 2024.Kejriwal appeared before the court via virtual mode.
Following the Supreme Court’s directions, Kejriwal surrendered to Tihar Jail on June 2, 2024.
Previously, on June 1, the court reserved its decision on Kejriwal’s bail plea.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate N Hariharan, representing Kejriwal, argued, “The interim bail was for the purpose of campaigning for my party, which is a national party…I am out for 20 days and had I not done it, you would’ve said he didn’t campaign and fell ill. It was a lot of stress due to the campaigning, and you know that stress is an aggravator of diabetes. What was alarming was that KETO levels rose in the urine. The aspect of concern is high level of sugar and the keto numbers.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), contended that there were several factual suppressions, including those related to Kejriwal’s health. They argued that the court could not modify the superior court’s order.
ED lawyers objected to the filing of the interim bail Plea. They asserted, “He’s on interim bail because the SC granted, what he is asking here is an extension of Supreme Court order.”
They claimed the interim bail plea contained suppressed information and insisted it should be dismissed. The ED noted, “Supreme Court had granted liberty to him that he can file regular bail but the liberty to seek extension of interim bail is not granted to him. He has said that these tests require 7 days, the nature of the test has been suppressed.”
The ED also raised issues regarding the maintainability of the interim bail plea, arguing that instead of undergoing medical tests, Kejriwal had traveled extensively. They pointed out that medical tests wouldn’t exceed an hour.
Furthermore, ED pointed out discrepancies in Kejriwal’s claims, alleging he gained a kilogram instead of losing seven as claimed. They highlighted that the Registrar of the Supreme Court had passed a speaking order, which was not disclosed.
They accused Kejriwal of traveling for campaigning purposes without undergoing the medical tests.
Recently, Kejriwal’s legal team filed two separate bail applications before the court. His regular bail plea is set for hearing on June 7, 2024.
ASG SV Raju, appearing for the ED, noted earlier, “He’s campaigning in Punjab. His health did not hinder him from campaigning. Strenuous campaigning has been done. Last minute bail is being filed. His conduct doesn’t entitle him to any bail.”
Kejriwal had also approached the Supreme Court for an extension of interim bail. The Supreme Court rejected his plea on Wednesday, saying that he had the liberty to move the trial court for regular bail, rendering the plea for extension non-maintainable.
Kejriwal was granted interim bail by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta on May 10 and was asked to surrender to Tihar Jail on June 2. The bench had reserved its verdict on his challenge to the validity of his arrest by the ED in the Excise Policy money laundering case on May 17.
The Supreme Court clarified that since the order on the challenge to the arrest was already reserved, Kejriwal’s plea for an extension of interim bail had no bearing on the main petition.
On May 28, the Rouse Avenue Court reserved its order on the point of cognizance regarding the ED’s supplementary chargesheet filed against Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) related to the Excise Policy case.
The court, after hearing ED’s arguments, scheduled the pronouncement of the order on the cognizance point for June 4, 2024.
On May 17, 2024, ED officials, alongside Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Naveen Kumar Matta, filed the charge sheet in the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi.
On May 10, the Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 in the money laundering case registered by the ED concerning the Delhi excise policy. It was specified that he was not to visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat. The bench ordered Kejriwal to surrender on June 2.
The apex court was hearing Kejriwal’s appeal against a Delhi High Court judgment that dismissed his plea against the ED’s arrest and subsequent remand in the excise policy case.
In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Kejriwal argued that his arrest post the general elections announcement was “motivated by extraneous considerations.”
Earlier, on April 9, the High Court had dismissed his plea for release from jail, rejecting his claims of political vendetta amidst the looming Lok Sabha elections.
The high court pointed out that Kejriwal’s failure to attend nine ED summons over six months weakened any claims of special privilege as Chief Minister, suggesting his arrest was a natural consequence of his non-cooperation.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in relation to a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.