Fri, 20 September 2024 06:07:43am
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Legal Battle: ED vs. Arvind Kejriwal's Bail Plea
Arvind Kejriwal Bail Plea
Arvind Kejriwal, the arrested Delhi Chief Minister, submitted a bail plea on Friday, but it was postponed until June 14. When the matter was taken up today, Kejriwal's counsel, Senior Supporter N Hariharan looked for a short deferment until tomorrow as he wanted additional time go through the 182-page answer recorded by the Implementation Directorate (ED). He claimed that the ED's response arrived just a few minutes before the bail hearing today.
"Advance copy doesn't mean you give it to me half an hour before the hearing," Hariharan said while urging the trial court to take up the matter tomorrow.
Nonetheless, Extra Specialist General (ASG) SV Raju brought up that a consultation tomorrow would cut into the preliminary court's late spring break, which will begin tomorrow.
"We don't only have Arvind Kejriwal matter. We have so many matters. We are overburdened ... (If the case is posted before a vacation judge) I have to cut short my vacation," the ASG argued.
This drew a sharp response from Kejriwal's counsel.
"It cannot be that in a bail situation, the prosecution says because I am on vacation, a bail matter may not be heard. It is unheard of," Hariharan said.
In response, the ASG stated that he could argue the point independently of the ED's response. He suggested that the ED's current response should not be recorded. Hariharan happened to re-stress that the ED can't drag out the bail hearing by refering to court travels or go against a consultation before a get-away seat.
The department cannot shut down. It is an absurd proposition. I will be incarcerated for two weeks... Why should I be kept waiting like this?" he said.
Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts eventually adjourned the matter by a week and posted it on June 14. Vacation judge Mukesh Kumar is likely to hear the matter when it comes up next.
Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain also appeared for the ED today.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 on allegations that he was part of a conspiracy to intentionally leave loopholes in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22, to benefit certain liquor sellers.
ED has alleged that kickbacks received from liquor sellers were used to fund the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) electoral campaign in Goa and Kejriwal being the National Convenor of the party is both personally and vicariously liable for the offence of money laundering.
Other AAP leaders arrested in the same case include former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh (out on bail).
Kejriwal remained in jail till May 10, when the Supreme Court allowed his release on interim bail to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. He returned to jail on June 2 after the interim bail period allowed by the top court came to an end.
The Delhi Chief Minister had filed an application seeking interim bail for seven days on medical grounds. However, that plea was rejected by Judge Baweja on June 5.
