The Delhi High Court has scheduled a hearing for March 21 to address the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) challenge against the bail of Arvind Kejriwal, the former Chief Minister, concerning allegations of money laundering linked to the excise policy case.
Justice Vikas Mahajan postponed the hearing originally set for Friday at the request of the ED’s counsel. The delay has been a point of contention, with Kejriwal’s senior counsel criticizing the frequent postponements. “ED repeatedly took dates in the past several months,” he remarked, advocating for a more immediate resolution.
During the session, Kejriwal’s legal representation argued strongly for the bail, noting the disparity in treatment compared to other accused in the same case who had already been granted bail. “There is an impending election. Why should this sword be hanging over him? If bail is well given to all 15 accused, why should it be kept pending for him?” he questioned.
In response, the ED’s lawyer maintained that the postponements had not caused any prejudice against Kejriwal, who remains on interim bail authorized by the Supreme Court. “No prejudice is caused to him,” the ED counsel stated, confirming the next hearing date.
The Supreme Court had previously granted Kejriwal interim bail on July 12, 2024, while referring three pivotal questions about the “need and necessity of arrest” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger bench for further examination.
Kejriwal was initially granted bail by a trial court on June 20, 2024, on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, which was later stayed by the high court following an appeal by the ED. His arrests in 2024, both by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on March 21 and June 26 respectively, were linked to the corruption and money laundering cases tied to the excise policy.
