Today(on 7th May),The Supreme Court will decide on interim bail for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, allowing him to campaign while in custody for a money laundering case.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 7th May),The Supreme Court is set to deliberate on a matter that will determine whether Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be granted interim bail during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal, who has been in custody since March 21 due to his alleged involvement in a money laundering case related to the excise policy, is seeking temporary release to actively campaign in the remaining phases of the elections.
The bench assigned to this matter comprises Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, who will hear Kejriwal’s plea as the first case. The Delhi Chief Minister has been under judicial custody in Tihar jail since his arrest. The court had previously hinted at the possibility of granting interim bail, taking into account the time-consuming legal proceedings and the significance of Kejriwal’s involvement in the electoral process. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will present its arguments regarding this matter.
During the earlier hearings, the court emphasized the need to address the issue of interim bail before the elections and duly notified the ED in order to avoid any surprises. However, it clarified that the decision on granting interim bail would be made after careful consideration and that there was no guarantee it would be approved.
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Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who is representing Kejriwal, drew attention to the timing of the Chief Minister’s arrest, which coincided with the announcement of the elections. Singhvi argued that Kejriwal’s arrest was based on information that had been known to the agency since July of the previous year. The Delhi High Court had previously upheld Kejriwal’s arrest, stating that it was warranted due to his repeated disregard of summonses and failure to cooperate with the investigation.
BACKGROUND
The case revolves around allegations of corruption and money laundering in the development and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for the FY 2021-22, which has subsequently been scrapped. The precise details of the accusations against Kejriwal are yet to be fully disclosed, and the ongoing legal proceedings will shed more light on the matter.
Kejriwal’s request for interim bail stems from his desire to actively participate in the electoral process and campaign during the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections. His temporary release would enable him to connect with voters and promote his party’s agenda. However, the decision ultimately lies in the hands of the Supreme Court, and the outcome will significantly impact Kejriwal’s political prospects in the current elections.
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The Enforcement Directorate is set to present its arguments concerning the interim bail plea, a pivotal moment that could sway the court’s decision. Meanwhile, the court will conduct a comprehensive assessment of all factors involved.
