The Supreme Court on Friday has set September 5 for hearing pleas by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for bail and challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged excise policy scam.
A bench of Surya Kant, while refusing to entertain the petition, said it will allow the adjournment as Additional Solicitor General ASG S.V. Raju sought a week's time to file reply on behalf of the CBI.
The ASG said the central investigating agency has already filed response in one of the petitions filed by CM Kejriwal.
In his defence, senior advocate on behalf of the government, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, submitted that the late Thursday reply filed by the CBI to a very large extent underlined a deliberate design on the part of the agency.
At the end, the Bench, also comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, allowed the CBI to file its counter affidavit in the matter and granted 2-day time to petitioner to file rejoinder, if any.
The apex court, while issuing notice on Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest in the corruption case and his separate petition seeking bail last week, had asked the CBI to file its reply by August 23.
The office report prepared today by the Assistant Registrar recorded that though advocate M.K. Maroria has filed Vakalatnama/appearance on behalf of CBI, but "he has not filed a counter affidavit".
It further added that the notice has also been issued to CBI through special messenger, apart from 'dasti'.
Challenging his arrest and subsequent remand orders, AAP convenor has pressed for bail in the corruption case before the apex court in his special leave petition.
He had assailed the August 5 judgment of the Delhi High Court which held his arrest not illegal or unjustifiable since the CBI put in "evidently enough evidence" to justify his detention and remand.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, in the impugned order, directed Kejriwal to seek interim bail from the trial court.
The CBI filed the chargesheet before a special court on July 29 against Delhi Chief Minister and other accused persons in the excise policy case.
The ED filed a prosecution complaint in February this year, naming AAP and its national convenor Kejriwal as accused in the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The court here on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of the Delhi Chief Minister under August 27 in connection with the Excise Policy case.
The AAP leader was produced before special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court through videoconferencing from Tihar Jail upon the expiry of his earlier granted custody.
Read also| Arvind Kejriwal’s Judicial Custody Extended Until August 27 in Excise Policy Case
Read also| Arvind Kejriwal's Judicial Custody Extended to August 27 in Excise Policy Case
