In a notable legal proceeding, the Single Judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in Delhi High Court, took up the plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, mentioned that he had not yet received a copy of the petition, requesting three weeks to file a reply.
Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that the delay in receiving the petition was a motivated attempt to stall the proceedings.
Justice Sharma, in response, proposed to issue a notice in the main matter and set a short date for the interim application. Singhvi highlighted the urgency of the matter, especially since Kejriwal’s remand was nearing its end. He urged the court to consider the fundamental issues surrounding the remand, arguing that the case directly impacts the basic structure of democracy, particularly in the context of free and fair elections.
Singhvi criticized the ED’s approach, suggesting that the arrest was made without sufficient basis and that the agency’s reliance on terms like “non-cooperation” was an abuse of its powers.
The hearing witnessed a detailed discussion on legal precedents and principles, with Singhvi referring to various judgments to support his arguments against the ED’s actions. He stressed the importance of a level playing field in elections and raised concerns about the potential misuse of the legal system against political figures.
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Justice Sharma expressed the need to thoroughly understand the matter before making a decision. The ASG requested time to file a detailed reply, both to the main petition and the interim application, highlighting the procedural rights of the parties involved.
The final order is expected to be uploaded at 4 PM in the day, marking a crucial juncture in this high-profile case.
