Liquor Policy: Delhi Court Seeks ED's Response On Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Bail Plea, Hearing On June 01

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday moved a Delhi Court seeking regular bail in the money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam.

Kejriwal has also filed a plea seeking interim bail for seven days on medical grounds.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Courts issued notice and sought response of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the pleas filed by Kejriwal seeking regular bail as well as interim bail.

Appearing for ED, ASG SV Raju sought time to file response to the pleas, submitting that there are several suppressions which the central probe agency wants to bring on record.

“He is not in custody. He has been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court. He is today in Punjab campaigning. His health did not hinder him from campaigning. He moves the bail on last date so that we get very little time. His conduct doesn't entitle him for any orders today,” Raju said.

Senior Advocate N Hariharan appeared for Kejriwal

The matter will now be heard on June 01 at 2 PM.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by ED on March 21. He was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court which ends on June 01. He has to surrender on June 02.

The Supreme Court Registry yesterday refused to list Kejriwal's plea seeking a 7-day extension of his interim bail. He was given the liberty to move the trial court for regular bail.

Recently, ED filed a supplementary chargesheet in the money laundering case naming Kejriwal as well as the Aam Aadmi Party as accused. The court has reserved the order on cognizance on the seventh supplementary chargesheet filed by the probe agency.

On April 10, the Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest, observing that ED was able to place enough material, statements of approvers and AAP's own candidate stating that Kejriwal was given money for Goa elections.

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are also accused in the case. While Sisodia continues to remain in jail, Singh was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court pursuant to a concession given by the ED.

ED has alleged that Arvind Kejriwal is the "kingpin" of Delhi excise scam and is directly involved in the use of proceeds of crime accounting to over Rs. 100 crores.

It is ED's case 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.