Supreme Court Delays Arvind Kejriwal’s Bail Hearing to September 5
The Supreme Court of India has postponed the hearing of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea to September 5. Kejriwal is challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to uphold his arrest by the CBI in a corruption case related to the Delhi excise policy scam.
Details of the Case
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) an additional week to file a reply. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the CBI, requested more time to file an affidavit. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that the affidavit was deliberately filed late to prevent it from reaching the bench in time.
High Court’s Previous Ruling
On August 5, the Delhi High Court upheld Kejriwal’s arrest, stating it was legal and based on sufficient evidence. The court noted that Kejriwal could influence witnesses, who only came forward after his arrest. The High Court emphasized that Kejriwal is a significant public figure, being the Chief Minister and a recipient of the Magsaysay Award.
Arrests and Charges
Kejriwal was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, 2024, in connection with a money laundering probe related to the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22. He was later arrested by the CBI on June 26, 2024, while still in ED custody.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes the final decisions on important legal matters.
Arvind Kejriwal -: Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi, which means he is the head of the government in Delhi.
Bail Hearing -: A bail hearing is a court meeting where a judge decides if a person who has been arrested can be released from jail while waiting for their trial.
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big court in Delhi that deals with important legal cases in the city.
CBI -: CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation. It is a special police force in India that investigates serious crimes like corruption.
Corruption -: Corruption means doing something illegal or dishonest for personal gain, like taking bribes.
Delhi Excise Policy Scam -: This is a case where people are accused of doing illegal activities related to the rules for selling alcohol in Delhi.
ED -: ED stands for Enforcement Directorate. It is a government agency in India that investigates financial crimes like money laundering.