The Supreme Court, on Friday, refrained from delivering its verdict on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's appeal against his arrest by the ED in a money laundering case associated with the purported excise scam. Nevertheless, it accorded him the freedom to approach the trial court for regular bail.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta deferred its decision following the arguments presented by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing Kejriwal and the Enforcement Directorate, respectively.
"Arguments duly considered. Verdict pending. Despite this, and without precluding any rights and contentions, the appellant may seek bail from the trial court as per legal provisions," stated the bench in its decree.
The apex court reviewed the case documents and testimonies of witnesses and defendants recorded post-October 30, 2023—the date on which senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia's bail plea was dismissed. Sisodia is accused in both the corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged scam.
Delhi's chief minister was apprehended on March 21 in connection with the money laundering case. The apex court had previously granted him interim bail from May 10 to June 1 for participating in the Lok Sabha elections campaign, with instructions to surrender on June 2 and return to custody.
Nonetheless, the court restricted Kejriwal from accessing his office or the Delhi secretariat, and from signing official documents unless deemed absolutely necessary for obtaining the lieutenant governor's endorsement.
The case pertains to purported irregularities and money laundering in the development and implementation of Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which has since been annulled.
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