In 2024, Delhi’s subordinate judiciary was active with legal battles involving notable figures like former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in the excise policy case. Amidst political drama, key cases included BRS leader K Kavitha’s struggles and allegations against BJP’s Brij Bhushan Singh. Other significant trials are anticipated for 2025, including the ongoing “land-for-jobs” scam.
New Delhi: The year 2024 witnessed a whirlwind of high-profile legal battles in Delhi’s subordinate judiciary, with former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest in the 2021-22 excise policy case stealing the spotlight. From arrests and bail hearings to allegations of corruption and political drama, the courts were bustling with cases involving top politicians, activists, and controversial figures.
Kejriwal’s Arrest: A Landmark Event
Arvind Kejriwal became the first-ever sitting Chief Minister to be arrested in India when he was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, 2024. Named as an accused in the excise policy case, Kejriwal was produced in court the following day and placed under ED custody until April 1.
While Special Judge Niyay Bindu granted him bail on June 20, citing that the –
“ED failed to give direct evidence against him concerning the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged scam,”
the Delhi High Court stayed the bail order the very next day upon the ED’s request.
The drama escalated further when Kejriwal was arrested again by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26 in a corruption case related to the alleged scam. He was sent to judicial custody on June 29. Finally, Kejriwal received relief from the Supreme Court in both cases—on July 12 for the ED case and September 13 for the CBI case—leading to his release from jail.
BRS Leader K Kavitha’s Custody Battles
Another key figure in the excise policy case was Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha. Arrested by the ED on March 15 and by the CBI on April 11, Kavitha’s legal struggles also reached the Supreme Court. On August 27, the apex court granted her bail in both cases, marking a significant relief for the Telangana MLC.
“South Lobby” Allegations and More Arrests
The agencies investigating the excise policy case pointed to the role of a “south lobby” in the alleged scam. In addition to Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Kavitha had already been named in chargesheets.
Justice for Ankit Saxena
Amid the political cases, the judiciary brought closure to a tragic 2018 case. Photographer Ankit Saxena, allegedly murdered by his girlfriend’s family over interfaith differences, finally saw justice. On March 7, his killers, including her parents and maternal uncle, were sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment.
NewsClick Founder’s Legal Trouble
Online news portal NewsClick’s founder Prabir Purkayastha also faced legal action in 2024. A court took cognisance of chargesheets filed against him on May 1, continuing his legal battles.
Brij Bhushan Singh’s Sexual Harassment Charges
BJP heavyweight and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh faced sexual harassment allegations from women wrestlers. On May 21, a court framed charges against him and co-accused Vinod Tomar, marking a critical moment in the case.
Medha Patkar’s Defamation Sentence
In a 23-year-old defamation case filed by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, activist Medha Patkar was sentenced to five months’ simple imprisonment on July 1. The court suspended her sentence, and her appeal is pending.
Congress Leaders in the Courts
Congress leader Karti Chidambaram was granted bail on June 6 in a money laundering case linked to a Chinese visa scam. Meanwhile, Jagdish Tytler faced fresh charges of murder in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. Charges were framed against him on September 13 after he pleaded not guilty.
Jailed Politician Wins Lok Sabha Seat
Engineer Rashid, accused in a Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case, made headlines after winning a Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections while still in jail. Granted interim bail on September 11 to campaign for assembly polls, Rashid later surrendered on October 28, with his regular bail plea pending.
Northeast Delhi Riots: No Relief for Activists
Former JNU student Umar Khalid, student activist Sharjeel Imam, and ex-councillor Tahir Hussain, all accused in northeast Delhi riots cases, remained entangled in legal proceedings. Khalid received a seven-day reprieve in December to attend a family wedding.
Land-for-Jobs Case
The high-profile “land-for-jobs” scam saw former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, and their children, including Tejashwi Yadav and Misa Bharti, securing bail from a special court on October 7.
AAP Leaders in the Spotlight
Senior AAP leader Satyendar Jain, facing money laundering charges, was granted bail after 18 months in jail on October 18. Amanatullah Khan, another AAP MLA, was released on November 14 after the court refused to take cognisance of a chargesheet in a Delhi Waqf case. Meanwhile, AAP MLA Naresh Balyan was arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act on December 4, soon after securing bail in another extortion case.
Looking Ahead: Trials in 2025
While most cases in 2024 focused on bail hearings and interim relief, the coming year may bring significant trials and verdicts. Whether subordinate courts will accelerate proceedings and deliver judgments in these high-profile cases remains a question worth watching.
Cause Title: Arvind Kejriwal v. Central Bureau of Investigation
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