Delhi Court Clears Way For 10-Year Passport Renewal Of Arvind Kejriwal, Says ‘No Objection’
A Delhi Court on Wednesday said it has “no objection” to the renewal of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s passport for 10 years, despite opposition from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the ongoing Delhi excise policy scam cases.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of Rouse Avenue Court who was hearing the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged excise scam, allowed Kejriwal’s plea seeking the full-term passport renewal.
The Court reasoned that since Kejriwal is not currently seeking permission to travel abroad and is bound by bail conditions requiring prior court approval for any foreign travel, there is no legal impediment to the renewal.
“After all, the bail condition already prescribes that the applicant shall not travel abroad without formal permission of court,” the Court said, adding, “The court has no objection if the passport of the applicant is renewed for 10 years as per rules.”
The Court, however, clarified that its order does not bind the passport authorities and does not restrict their discretion under the Indian Passports Act and relevant rules.
Kejriwal’s counsel had submitted that the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s passport had expired in 2018, and the application was a standard renewal request for the full 10-year period.
The ED had objected to the renewal being granted for a decade, while the CBI sought a more limited five-year renewal, citing practice in similar cases before special CBI courts.
Previously
On May 29, Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently an accused in the Delhi excise policy case had moved an application before the Delhi Court seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the renewal of his passport.
Kejriwal’s counsel informed the Court that his passport had expired in 2018, and he is seeking its renewal for a period of 10 years.
Meanwhile, the CBI informed the Court that it is prepared to argue on the framing of charges in the corruption case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
The case involves two separate investigations, one by the CBI into alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22, and the other by the ED into alleged money laundering arising from the same.
The CBI’s FIR was registered following a recommendation by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena. Both agencies allege that irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, with undue benefits extended to license holders.
The policy was implemented on November 17, 2021, and was scrapped in September 2022 amid widespread allegations of corruption.