The Delhi High Court recently deliberated on the bail conditions of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy. Kejriwal, expressing his concerns about the constant legal pressure, remarked, “You can’t have a sword hanging on my head,” highlighting his plea for a resolution to the prolonged legal scrutiny.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) responded by reminding the court that Kejriwal was already granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on July 12. The apex court had issued this bail while setting aside three significant questions about the “need and necessity of arrest” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger bench for a more detailed examination.
The legal saga began when Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26 over allegations of corruption and money laundering in the scrapped Delhi excise policy. The policy, which was discontinued in 2022 following a directive from the Delhi Lieutenant Governor for a CBI probe, has been at the center of controversy with claims of irregular modifications and undue advantages provided to licensees.
On June 20, prior to the Supreme Court’s intervention, a trial court had granted Kejriwal bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. However, this decision was stayed by the high court shortly thereafter, leading to ongoing legal proceedings and debates over the appropriate handling of the case under the PMLA.
The cases against Kejriwal stem from what the CBI and ED describe as serious procedural anomalies during the amendment of the excise policy and alleged corrupt practices that favored certain license holders. This has put significant political and legal pressure on Kejriwal’s administration, prompting discussions on the balance between lawful governance and political accountability.
