New Delhi. The petition challenging the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor scam and money laundering case was heard in the Supreme Court today (May 16). Today’s hearing has been completed and the next hearing will be held tomorrow at 2:30 pm. Tomorrow ED will argue for 15 minutes and Kejriwal’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi will argue for 45 minutes. During the hearing in the Supreme Court today, Kejriwal’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that ED has given the account of the money of only 2 people out of Rs 100 crore. Responding, Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju whether he had reduced the amount to Rs 45 crore. ASG Raju replied that no, he has traced the amount of Rs 45 crore. He said that the agency is not politically motivated.
Justice Khanna asked why preliminary seizure was not mandatory. ASG Raju replied that his reasoning was that seizure was not necessary. An offense can be established even without this. If we had put pressure on Sharat Reddy, he would have given a completely different statement. Reddy only said that he met Kejriwal. He could have said that Kejriwal asked for Rs 100 crore. The investigating agency is completely impartial. We have enough evidence. The agency is not politically motivated. ASG Raju claimed that Kejriwal avoided the summons by making false pretenses, which indicated a crime. We have evidence that Vijay Nair was fully involved in this liquor policy. He lived in bungalows allotted for ministers, although he had no connection with that house.
Justice Khanna remarked that the credibility of the approver’s statement varies. This needs to be confirmed. ASG Raju said that when Kejriwal was arrested, the magistrate also investigated the facts. The magistrate was satisfied to invoke Section 19 of the PMLA. Justice Khanna asked ED how much time they needed for arguments. ED asked for 15 minutes time. However, Singhvi requested 45 minutes. The Supreme Court said that the hearing on this matter will be held tomorrow at 2:30 pm. Singhvi said that he will present his arguments tomorrow.
Arvind Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on May 10. The Supreme Court had ordered the release of Kejriwal on interim bail till June 1 for the election campaign. They have to surrender on 2 June. Kejriwal was released on certain conditions, which included refraining from discussing the matter.