The Supreme Court is set to hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s pleas for bail and his challenge against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged excise policy scam on Thursday.
According to the causelist published on the apex court’s website, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan will resume hearing the matter on September 5.
In his special leave petition, Kejriwal has filed two separate petitions challenging the denial of bail and his arrest by the CBI on June 26 in the case. He has also contested the August 5 order of the Delhi High Court, which upheld his arrest..
The top court had, on August 23, permitted the CBI to file its counter affidavit and granted Kejriwal two days to submit a rejoinder.
Previously, a trial court had granted bail to Kejriwal on June 20 after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in the money laundering case. However, this bail order was subsequently stayed by the Delhi High Court.
Additionally, the Supreme Court had ordered, on July 12, that Kejriwal be released on interim bail in connection with the case filed by the ED. However, he remained in custody due to his arrest by the CBI.
On August 5, the Delhi High Court had upheld the arrest of the chief minister as legal, stating that there was no malice in the CBI’s actions. The court noted that the CBI had demonstrated how the AAP supremo could potentially influence witnesses, who only found the courage to testify after his arrest.
The high court had directed him to apply for regular bail in the CBI case before the trial court.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a court took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the CBI against Kejriwal and other accused in the alleged liquor policy scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja issued a production warrant for Kejriwal on September 11 and extended his custody until the same date.
Recently, the Supreme Court had granted bail to senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K. Kavitha, and AAP’s former communication-in-charge Vijay Nair in the excise policy case.
(With inputs from agencies)
Comments
0 comment