Supreme Court to Decide on Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest in Excise Policy Case

The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an excise policy case. The verdict, reserved since May 17, will be announced on July 12 by a bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju stated that there was evidence of money being sent to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) through hawala channels. Raju also mentioned that ED discovered chats between Kejriwal and hawala operators regarding the alleged proceeds of crime.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that the material cited by ED to justify Kejriwal’s arrest was not present at the time of his arrest. On May 10, the top court granted Kejriwal interim bail till June 1 but ordered him not to visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat. Kejriwal surrendered on June 2 as directed.

Kejriwal’s appeal in the Supreme Court is against a Delhi High Court judgment that dismissed his plea against his arrest and remand by the ED. Kejriwal contended that his arrest after the General Elections announcement was politically motivated. The High Court had dismissed his plea for release from jail on April 9, rejecting his argument of political vendetta and noting his non-cooperation with ED summons.

Kejriwal was arrested by ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22.