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Synopsis

The Rouse Avenue Court, on Friday, deferred Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea to June 14, 2024, while extending his judicial custody until June 19, 2024, in the matter related to the defunct liquor excise policy. Kejriwal had approached the court seeking regular bail. 

After the Supreme Court and the High Court both denied an extension of his interim bail, Kejriwal surrendered to Tihar Jail on June 2, 2024. Previously, the Supreme Court had granted him interim bail from May 10, 2024, until June 1, 2024, with instructions to surrender on June 2, 2024. Nevertheless, Kejriwal was permitted to request regular bail from the trial court.

At the June 7 hearing, Senior Advocate Hariharan, representing Kejriwal, informed the court that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had only recently submitted its response to the bail plea. He requested that the case be scheduled for the following week before a vacation judge, given the impending court closure.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, indicated his unavailability for the following week and requested the case be listed for the subsequent week. 

Consequently, the court scheduled the hearing for June 14 before a vacation judge. The court previously directed Tihar Jail to conduct diagnostic tests for Kejriwal.

Background: 

Kejriwal's arrest occurred on the evening of March 21st subsequent to the high court's denial of protection against coercive measures in a case related to money laundering associated with an excise policy, prompting searches by the ED at the Chief Minister's residence in Delhi.

During a hearing on Kejriwal's plea against the ED's arrest, it was disclosed that personal communications between Kejriwal and Hawala operators had been uncovered. The ED alleged that Kejriwal had demanded Rs 100 crores during the Goa elections, which was subsequently routed through hawala transactions.

Earlier, on May 10th, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Kejriwal, permitting him to campaign for the Aam Aadmi Party in the 2024 General Elections. Following this, the ED informed the court that Kejriwal had made derogatory public statements post his release on interim bail. The terms of interim bail stipulated that Kejriwal should refrain from contacting witnesses or accessing official documents related to the case.