Today(on 7th August),The Delhi High Court questioned the Enforcement Directorate about the potential re-arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This inquiry came during the ED’s challenge to a trial court’s bail decision, as Kejriwal remains in jail following his arrest by the CBI over an alleged liquor policy scam.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 7th August), The Delhi High Court posed a critical question to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the potential re-arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This query emerged during the ED’s petition challenging a trial court’s decision to grant bail to Mr. Kejriwal, who is currently in jail following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an alleged liquor policy scam.
Justice Neena Bansal of the Delhi High Court expressed her confusion during the proceedings, remarking-
“I’m unsure. What exactly are your plans? Are you considering arresting him again?”
This statement underscores the perplexity surrounding the ED’s intentions concerning Mr. Kejriwal’s detainment.
Background of the Case
The Rouse Avenue Court had previously granted bail to Mr. Kejriwal on June 20 in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, this order was subsequently stayed by the Delhi High Court.
The question now stands:
“‘Are You Planning to Re-Arrest Arvind Kejriwal?’: High Court Questions Agency”
Mr. Kejriwal’s defense has described the case as one of “sheer persecution,” a sentiment echoed by his lawyer during the hearing. Despite the Supreme Court granting interim bail to Mr. Kejriwal in the ED case in July, he remains incarcerated due to a concurrent arrest by the CBI.
Legal Proceedings
During the Wednesday hearing, Advocate Vivek Gurnani represented the ED and requested Justice Bansal to schedule the petition for a later date, citing the unavailability of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who was occupied with another matter. Justice Bansal noted that the Supreme Court had already granted bail to Mr. Kejriwal. However, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, representing Mr. Kejriwal, reiterated that the case was a matter of “sheer persecution.”
The court decided to pass over the matter to be heard later in the day, allowing other cases to proceed first.
Details of the Excise Policy Scam
The alleged scam centers around the Delhi government’s excise policy introduced in November 2021. This policy marked the government’s withdrawal from the retail sale of liquor, permitting private licensees to operate liquor stores. In July 2022, Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar identified significant violations within this policy, alleging “undue benefits” to liquor licensees. The controversial policy was eventually scrapped in September of the same year.
According to the CBI, liquor companies played a pivotal role in crafting the excise policy to secure a 12% profit margin. It further alleged that a liquor lobby, referred to as the “South Group,” paid kickbacks amounting to Rs.100 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with a portion of these funds allegedly directed to public servants.
The Enforcement Directorate has accused involved parties of laundering these kickbacks. The AAP has consistently denied all allegations, labeling Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest as a conspiracy orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP, on the other hand, has accused the AAP of utilizing the kickbacks to finance its election campaigns.
