New Delhi, Sep 12 — The Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict on Friday regarding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petitions challenging his arrest and seeking bail in the excise policy ‘scam’ case. The cause list for September 13, available on the apex court’s website, indicates that a bench led by Justice Surya Kant will deliver the ruling. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan is also part of the bench.
On September 5, the bench reserved its decision on Kejriwal’s pleas. The Delhi Chief Minister has filed two separate petitions: one challenging the denial of bail and another contesting his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the corruption case.
Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26. He has since challenged the Delhi High Court’s August 5 order, which upheld his arrest. The high court had concluded that the evidence against Kejriwal had been sufficiently gathered post-arrest and that the arrest was justified. It also allowed Kejriwal the option to approach a trial court for bail.
The case centers on alleged corruption related to the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which has since been withdrawn. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also initiated a separate money laundering investigation in connection with the alleged scam. Both agencies have accused those involved of irregularities and favoritism in modifying the excise policy.
On July 12, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the money laundering case. The court had referred the matter to a larger bench for a detailed examination of the “need and necessity of arrest” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with the money laundering case.
During the September 5 proceedings, Kejriwal’s legal team strongly opposed the CBI’s argument that he should have first approached the trial court for bail. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the CBI, questioned the maintainability of Kejriwal’s pleas, citing that even in the money laundering case, the apex court had previously directed him to return to the trial court.
The Supreme Court’s upcoming verdict will be closely watched as it could have significant implications for the ongoing investigations and the political landscape.
