Supreme Court hears Delhi CM’s bail plea in liquor policy case
On Thursday, the Supreme Court postponed its decision regarding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s requests for bail and objections to his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to his suspected role in the excise policy scandal.
The bench of Judges Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan presided over the case.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented Kejriwal
Kejriwal was represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, while the CBI was represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju.
While the trial was ongoing, Singhvi pointed out that this is the only instance where Kejriwal has been granted bail twice under the strict Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) rules, in addition to the usual bail.
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The senior counsel also stressed that Kejriwal is not a concern in the PMLA case.
“He does not pose a danger in the PMLA case. At present, only the triple test is left; the next move is to secure ordinary bail from the trial court according to Section 45 of the PMLA. The High Court put a hold on this order during a verbal mention. Singhvi stated that there are three orders being enforced efficiently.”
Singhvi argued that all co-accused in the case have been released
Singhvi also noted that the central agency made an ‘insurance arrest’ after Kejriwal was granted bail in the ED case. Arguing for bail for the jailed Delhi CM, he stated that Kejriwal is a constitutional functionary and is not a “flight risk”.
Singhvi also argued that all the co-accused in the Delhi excise case have been released. “The trial court noted that the timing of the arrest is unusual. The triple test has been fully met. It is ironic that nearly all co-accused have been released, with perhaps only one exception,” he said.
