Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to be released from Tihar jail today(21st June),after being granted bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam. His lawyers are expected to submit a Rs 1 lakh bail bond, and his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, is likely to visit the prison at 4 PM, according to sources.
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DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to be released from Tihar jail today(21st June), after being granted bail by the Rouse Avenue court in a money laundering case related to the alleged liquor policy scam. Kejriwal’s release comes after his lawyers are expected to submit a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh to the court later today. Sources indicate that his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, is expected to visit the high-security prison at 4 PM.
The High Court vacation bench, consisting of Justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja, is expected to address the matter. Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, representing Kejriwal, is also present in court.
The court’s decision to grant bail has imposed several conditions on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief. These include directives that Kejriwal must not attempt to hamper the investigation or influence any witnesses. Additionally, the judge instructed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), however, has expressed its intention to challenge the court’s decision.
“The ED plans to file an appeal in the Delhi High Court against the bail granted to the AAP leader if he is released from jail,”
-an ED spokesperson stated.
This move follows the Rouse Avenue court’s rejection of the federal probe agency’s request to keep the bail order in abeyance for 48 hours, which would have allowed it to seek legal remedies by appealing to a higher court.
Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21 was a significant development in this high-profile case. The arrest came shortly after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from arrest following his petition challenging the summonses issued to him. The Supreme Court had earlier intervened on May 10, granting Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 to enable him to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections. The court emphasized, however, that he would need to surrender and return to jail by June 2.
Despite the temporary reprieve, Kejriwal’s situation remained precarious. On June 5, the trial court denied him interim bail once again, despite his claims of several ailments. His lawyers argued for leniency, citing his health conditions, but the court maintained its stance, leading to his continued detention in Tihar jail until today’s anticipated release.
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The allegations against Kejriwal and the ensuing legal battle have drawn significant media attention and political scrutiny. The case revolves around purported irregularities in the liquor policy during his tenure, with accusations of money laundering and other financial misconduct. The ED’s involvement has further complicated matters, as the agency continues its rigorous investigation into the allegations.
Kejriwal’s legal team has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that the charges are politically motivated.
“Kejriwal has been targeted due to his anti-corruption stance and his political rivals’ efforts to discredit him,”
– his lawyer, Vikram Chaudhari, argued in court.
The AAP has also rallied behind its leader, describing the case as a vendetta against Kejriwal’s efforts to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
During the hearing on Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented its case against Arvind Kejriwal, alleging significant misconduct in the liquor policy case. The ED claimed it had concrete evidence suggesting that Kejriwal demanded Rs 100 crore as kickbacks. Furthermore, the central probe agency accused that these kickbacks, received from liquor sellers, were used to finance the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) election campaign in Goa.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the ED, made several critical assertions during the hearing. He emphasized a direct money trail of proceeds of crime, which allegedly linked the South Group, including BRS leader K Kavitha, to the AAP. Raju’s statements highlighted the gravity of the allegations, suggesting a well-organized financial misconduct scheme.
ASG Raju specifically mentioned Kejriwal’s refusal to cooperate with the investigation regarding his phone.
“Kejriwal says my phone is sacrosanct. Mai password nahi dunga. (I will not give my password),”
-Raju stated, illustrating Kejriwal’s non-cooperation.
He continued-
“We had to resort to Vinod Chauhan’s phone (accused in the case). He remains silent. Kejriwal’s refusal to provide his password necessitates drawing an adverse inference. This alone is sufficient grounds to deny bail under regular bail laws, regardless of Section 45 of PMLA for now.”
Raju further alleged that Vinod Chauhan played a significant role in the scandal by managing transfers and postings of Delhi government officials, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
On the defense side, Kejriwal’s lawyer, senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary, strongly contested the ED’s allegations. Chaudhary argued that the ED’s claims were not substantiated by any concrete proof, thereby undermining the credibility of the accusations.
Chaudhary questioned the integrity and independence of the ED, suggesting possible political motivations behind the agency’s actions.
“Is the ED an independent agency or merely acting at the behest of political masters? The ED bases all its conclusions on hypotheses.”
-Chaudhary asserted, pointing towards a lack of concrete evidence in the charges filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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Delhi High Court allows urgent listing of the matter. Matter to be heard today.
