Arvind Kejriwal Gets Bail In ED's Complaints Alleging Non-Compliance Of Summons In Liquor Policy Case

A Delhi Court on Saturday granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the complaints moved by Enforcement Directorate (ED) for not complying with the summons issued to him in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra of Rouse Avenue Courts granted bail to Kejriwal subjecting to him furnishing bail bond to the sum of Rs  15,000 and a surety of like amount.

The court has now listed the matter for hearing on April 01 when it will hear Kejriwal's application under Section 207 of CrPC (Supply to the accused of copy of police report and other documents.) ED has been asked to file reply to the application.

The development came after a sessions court yesterday refused to stay two orders passed by the ACMM summoning Kejriwal on ED's complaints. The special judge however granted liberty to the Chief Minister to move court for exemption from personal appearance.

Kejriwal filed two criminal revisions challenging the magistrate's orders. The sessions court yesterday declined his request for stay and listed the pleas for hearing on March 30.

The agency has alleged that Kejriwal has not complied with the summons issued to him. So far, he has been issued eight summons in the case. 

ED had earlier filed a complaint case against the Chief Minister for not complying with the initial three summons issued to him. A fresh complaint was filed later alleging non compliance with three subsequent summons.

Kejriwal has skipped the summons, claiming that they are illegal. However, he informed ED recently that he could be questioned via a videoconferencing link after March 12.

The fresh complaint case was filed by ED under Section 190 (1)(a) of Cr.P.C. read with Section 200 of the Code, Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 63 (4) of PMLA, 2002.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have been arrested in the money laundering case and are presently in judicial custody.

ED has alleged that the excise policy was implemented as part of a conspiracy to give wholesale business profit of 12 percent to certain private companies, although such a stipulation was not mentioned in the minutes of meetings of Group of Ministers (GoM).

The Central agency has also claimed that there was a conspiracy that was coordinated by Vijay Nair and other individuals along with South Group to give extraordinary profit margins to wholesalers.

Nair was acting on behalf of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, according to the agency.