An application submitted by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for extending his interim bail by one week in the Delhi Excise Policy case was turned down by a Supreme Court Registrar. Registrar (Judicial Listing) Pavanesh D, in an order issued on May 28, stated that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader is ineligible to request an extension of interim relief while awaiting a decision on his primary plea.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Registry denied Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s request for a one-week extension of his interim bail in the ongoing Delhi Excise Policy case. The order was issued by Registrar (Judicial Listing) Pavanesh D, who stated that Kejriwal cannot seek an extension when a decision on his main plea is still pending.
Kejriwal’s application, submitted on medical grounds, claimed he needed additional time for health tests after campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. He cited his diabetes and the potential long-term health impacts as reasons for the extension.
However, the Registrar deemed the request ‘misconceived’ and ‘directly in conflict’ with the Supreme Court’s earlier order.
The Registrar explained,
“Order XV Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, enables the Registrar to refuse receiving a petition on the ground that it discloses no reasonable cause or is frivolous or contains scandalous matter. When the prayer made by the Applicant in this Application is considered, I am of the opinion that no reasonable cause or grounds are made out by the Applicant to entertain this application.”
He further elaborated that interim relief should only aid the main relief and noted,
“It is well settled that interim relief can be sought only in aid to the main relief. The relief sought for is beyond the scope of the main appeal since the issue relating to the validity of arrest of the Applicant is in question and not relating to his release on bail…For all these reasons, I refuse to receive the present application, as it does not disclose any reasonable cause for being entertained.”
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Kejriwal on March 21, following allegations that he and other AAP leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, conspired to manipulate the Delhi Excise Policy of 2021-22 to benefit certain liquor sellers.
This case, initiated by a complaint from Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, involves a broader investigation into purported criminal activities by senior AAP officials.
The Supreme Court had previously granted Kejriwal interim bail on May 10, allowing him to campaign for the elections, with a mandate for him to return by June 1.
However, on May 28, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court declined to pass any directive regarding Kejriwal’s plea for an extension.
Kejriwal has since approached the Rouse Avenue Court seeking regular bail in the same case. The matter is set for further hearings, keeping the public and political observers keenly watching the developments.
This decision by the Supreme Court Registry highlights the stringent standards applied in judicial proceedings, ensuring that applications are not only timely but also substantively justified. The denial underscores the importance of adhering to judicial protocols and the court’s focus on the merits of the main plea over ancillary requests.
CASE TITLE:
Shri Arvind Kejriwal v. Directorate of Enforcement
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Click Here to Read Previous Reports of Delhi Excise Policy Scam
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