Excise case: HC gives ED final chance to argue plea against Kejriwal’s bail
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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) a “last opportunity” to argue its plea challenging the bail granted to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the 2021-22 excise policy-linked money laundering case, after Kejriwal’s counsel objected to repeated adjournments by the agency.
The court listed the matter for November 10, noting the strong opposition of Kejriwal’s lawyer, who said this was the “ninth adjournment” taken by the ED “without any rhyme or reason.”
“In the interest of justice and considering that ASG S V Raju is unavailable, a last and final opportunity is granted to the petitioner department (ED). List on November 10,” Justice Ravinder Dudeja said, directing the ED’s counsel to ensure that the date is not wasted and that arguments are advanced.
At the start of proceedings, the ED’s counsel requested an adjournment as the Additional Solicitor General was engaged before the Supreme Court. Kejriwal’s lawyer opposed the request, highlighting the repeated delays in the proceedings.
Kejriwal is currently on bail pursuant to a Supreme Court order. On July 12, 2024, the top court granted him interim bail in the money laundering case while referring three questions on the “need and necessity of arrest” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger bench. Earlier, on June 20, 2024, Kejriwal had been granted bail by a trial court on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, which was subsequently stayed by the High Court.
The ED and CBI had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 and June 26, 2024, respectively, in the money laundering and corruption cases. The cases relate to alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of Delhi’s 2021-22 excise policy, which was scrapped in 2022 following a CBI probe ordered by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor. According to investigative agencies, modifications to the policy allegedly favoured certain licence holders unduly, resulting in financial irregularities.
With PTI inputs