ED’s bail plea against Kejriwal set for July 15.
The high court had earlier stayed the trial court’s June 20 order, which granted bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had challenged the trial court’s decision, arguing against the bail. Consequently, the high court scheduled the ED’s plea against Kejriwal’s bail for a hearing on July 15. This development came as part of ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the case, with the ED asserting its position and seeking to overturn the lower court’s decision to grant bail to Kejriwal.
The high court had earlier stayed the trial court’s June 20 order, which had granted bail to Kejriwal in the case. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who was scheduled to hear the plea, was informed by the counsel for the ED that they were served with Kejriwal’s reply to their petition
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, mentioned the matter before the court, saying a specific time should be fixed for the hearing as there is extreme urgency in the case.
The high court, on June 21, imposed an interim stay on the trial court’s bail order until the passing of an order on ED’s application for interim relief. It had issued a notice and asked Kejriwal to file a reply to ED’s petition.
According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, and undue favours were extended to license holders. The policy aimed to boost government revenue by restructuring the liquor distribution and sales system in Delhi. However, it quickly came under scrutiny when allegations surfaced that certain decisions within the policy framework had been manipulated to benefit private stakeholders disproportionately.
Kejriwal’s administration had defended the policy, claiming it was a necessary reform to modernize the excise sector, combat illicit liquor trade, and increase transparency. Despite these justifications, opposition parties and certain civil society groups raised alarms, leading to investigations by central agencies.
The ED’s investigation focused on allegations of money laundering linked to the supposed kickbacks and bribes paid by liquor licensees to secure favorable terms. The agency claimed that significant sums of money had been funneled through complex financial transactions to obscure their origin and intent.
As part of their broader investigation, the ED and CBI have conducted numerous raids, seizing documents and electronic devices believed to contain evidence of financial misconduct. Several high-profile arrests have been made, and multiple chargesheets have been filed in connection with the case.
Kejriwal’s arrest and subsequent bail became a focal point of political debate, with his supporters asserting that the charges were politically motivated and part of a larger strategy to undermine his administration. They pointed to the timing of the investigations and arrests as evidence of a concerted effort to disrupt the functioning of the Delhi government.
In contrast, the central agencies and their supporters argued that the arrests and investigations were purely based on evidence and aimed at upholding the rule of law. They emphasized the need to address systemic corruption and ensure accountability among public officials, regardless of their political affiliations.