The Delhi High Court on Friday fixed March 21 for hearing on the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s plea against the bail granted to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to excise policy.
Justice Vikas Mahajan adjourned Friday’s hearing on the request of the ED counsel.
The senior lawyer representing Kejriwal in the court opposed the request for adjournment, saying the ED has taken repeated dates in the last several months. He urged the court to hear the case and grant bail to Kejriwal, saying that other accused have been granted bail in the money laundering case.
Kejriwal’s lawyer said, “(Assembly) elections are going to be held. Why should this sword remain hanging over them? If all the 15 accused have got bail, why should it be kept pending for them?
The ED counsel said Kejriwal has not suffered any loss due to the adjournment as he has already got interim bail from the Supreme Court in the case. Justice Mahajan said, “I will put it up for hearing… No favoritism has been done to him.” List for hearing on March 21.
The top court had on July 12, 2024 granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case, while referring three questions to a larger bench on the aspect of “necessity and compulsion of arrest” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
On June 20 last year, Kejriwal was granted bail by the lower court on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, which was later stayed by the High Court on the ED’s petition. Aam Aadmi Party chief Kejriwal was arrested by the ED and CBI on March 21 and June 26, 2024 respectively in money laundering and corruption cases.
The Lieutenant Governor had canceled the Excise Policy 2021 in 2022 after ordering a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities and corruption related to the formulation and implementation of it.
