Supreme Court Denies Interim Bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India declined to grant interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently detained in Tihar Jail in connection with an alleged excise policy scam under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The court, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued a notice on Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and a separate petition seeking bail. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on August 23. Despite the proceedings, the bench refrained from issuing any order regarding interim bail at this time.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that the Supreme Court had previously ordered Kejriwal’s interim bail on July 12 in a related money laundering case handled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, Kejriwal was unable to be released due to an “insurance arrest” by the CBI, Singhvi explained.
Singhvi also highlighted that a trial court had granted bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), but this decision was stayed by the Delhi High Court following an “oral mention” by the ED. In his special leave petition before the Supreme Court, Kejriwal has contested his arrest and remand orders, seeking bail.
Kejriwal has challenged the Delhi High Court’s August 5 ruling, which upheld the legality of his arrest based on the CBI’s presentation of sufficient evidence to justify his detention and remand. The Delhi High Court had advised Kejriwal to seek interim bail from the trial court.
On Monday, Singhvi sought urgent consideration of Kejriwal’s petitions from Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, who assured him of an expedited review and requested an email submission to the apex court registry.
As of now, the Delhi High Court has yet to deliver its decision on Kejriwal’s bail plea related to the CBI case. The CBI had filed its charge sheet against Kejriwal and other accused in the excise policy case before a special court on July 29. The ED had already filed its prosecution complaint in the money laundering case, naming Kejriwal and his party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as accused.
In the meantime, a court has extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody in the excise policy case until August 20.
