Today, On 11th December, The Delhi High Court scheduled to hear a plea challenging the bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case in January 2025. The plea questions the trial court’s decision to grant bail and seeks a review of the matter. Allegations in the case revolve around irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy. The hearing is expected to bring further legal scrutiny to the controversial case.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court scheduled the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea against the bail granted to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for January 17, 2025, in connection with the 2021-22 excise policy-linked money laundering case.
During the proceedings, the ED’s counsel requested Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri to postpone the hearing due to the unavailability of Additional Solicitor General S V Raju. This request contested by senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary, representing Kejriwal, who emphasized the “pressing urgency” of the issue.
Chaudhary argued that the ED should withdraw its plea and that the court should lift its stay on the trial court’s bail order.
He asserted,
“You can’t have a sword hanging over my head,”
Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhary, On December 11, representing Arvind Kejriwal, stated,
“If the ED is not available to argue the case, then they should withdraw their case against Arvind Kejriwal.”
These comments were made during proceedings in the Delhi High Court, where the Enforcement Directorate challenging the bail granted to Kejriwal.
Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared via video conferencing, requesting an adjournment on the grounds that Additional Solicitor General SV Raju was out of town for a family wedding.
However, Senior Advocate Chaudhary strongly opposed the request for adjournment, arguing that the ED has been consistently following this pattern since the application was filed.
He further asserted,
“The ED is using this tactic to keep cases pending without any genuine intention to argue them.”
In response, the ED counsel pointed out that Kejriwal was already on bail due to an order from the Supreme Court. On July 12, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case, while referring three questions regarding the “need and necessity of arrest” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger bench.
Kejriwal initially received bail from a trial court on June 20, with a personal bond of Rs.1 lakh, but this was later stayed by the High Court.
He was arrested by the ED on March 21 and by the CBI on June 26 in connection with money laundering and corruption allegations. The excise policy was revoked in 2022 following a directive from the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to investigate alleged irregularities and corruption related to its formulation and implementation.
Read Also: [Delhi Excise Policy Case] “Submit the List of Documents”: Court Directs CBI
According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities occurred during modifications to the excise policy, and undue favors were granted to license holders.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been implicated in the contentious Delhi excise policy case, which alleges irregularities in the development and execution of the liquor policy. Introduced in 2021, the policy sought to liberalize the liquor trade but was later retracted amid corruption allegations. Both Kejriwal and his party have denied the accusations, asserting that they stem from political vendetta.
This case continues to be a major legal and political matter, with ongoing investigations and court proceedings receiving significant public attention.
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