Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest and Bail Plea
The Supreme Court will hear a petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest in an excise policy-linked money laundering case. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7th, 2019.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21st, 2019, and has been in judicial custody at Tihar Jail since then. The arrest came in connection with alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.
The Supreme Court may consider granting Kejriwal interim bail in view of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Polling in Delhi is scheduled for May 25th, 2019. The court has indicated that it may hear arguments on the issue of interim bail on May 7th, 2019.
The ED has opposed bail for Kejriwal, citing statements made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh after getting bail last month in the same case. The court has asked Kejriwal's lawyer to take instructions on whether he should be signing official files while in custody.
The Delhi High Court had earlier upheld Kejriwal's arrest, saying there was no illegality and the ED was left with "little option" after he skipped repeated summonses and refused to join the investigation.
The Supreme Court's decision on Kejriwal's bail plea will have a significant impact on his ability to campaign in the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections.