SC Defers Hearing On Interim Bail To Kejriwal In Liquor Policy Case: 'Don't Want You To Perform CM Duties If Released'
SC Defers Hearing On Interim Bail To Kejriwal In Liquor Policy Case: ‘Don’t Want You To Perform CM Duties If Released’
Arvind Kejriwal Bail News: The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its order on granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) linked to the Delhi Excise Policy scam. “We will tentatively see if the matter can finish day after tomorrow or list it next week,” the top court said, deferring the matter.
During the hearing, the top court heard arguments from both sides and told the petitioner (Arvind Kejriwal) that if it grants interim bail to Kejriwal, he cannot perform official duties as the apex court does not want interference at all in the working of the government.
The court said that if had there been no elections, then it would not have given any interim relief. The top court also said that Arvind Kejriwal is the elected Chief Minister of Delhi and the current circumstances are extraordinary, given the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. “Suppose we release you, and you are allowed to participate in elections, you will be performing official duties, it can have cascading effects. We make it clear, we don’t want you to be performing official duties if we release you,” a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for ED objected to the Supreme Court hearing arguments on interim bail for Kejriwal. Mehta further said that there can’t be any deviation only because Kejriwal is the Chief Minister and asked if the Supreme Court is carving out exceptions for politicians.
“What example are we setting? Are other people less important than the Chief Minister?. How can a Chief Minister be treated differently than an ‘Aam Aadmi.’ There can’t be any deviation only because he is a Chief Minister,” SG Mehta said.
Mehta argued that Kejriwal evaded the summons for six months and also informed the apex court that Kejriwal stayed at the 7-star Grand Hyatt hotel during the 2022 Goa Assembly election and its bill was paid by Chanpreet Singh, who allegedly accepted cash funds for the AAP’s campaign. “Please do not make an exception as it would demoralise a real common man and it shows that if you are holding a position, then you will get benefit,” SG Mehta, appearing for the ED, told the bench.