In a dramatic turn of events, the Delhi High Court has intervened to block the bail granted to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until an urgent hearing on the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea can be held. The High Court has decided that the trial court’s order will not take effect until the matter is fully reviewed.
This morning, the ED appealed to the High Court against the trial court’s decision to grant bail to Kejriwal in connection with the ongoing liquor policy money laundering investigation. Kejriwal, who was set to be released from Tihar Jail today, will remain in custody pending the High Court’s review.
The initial bail decision came after Kejriwal’s lawyer successfully argued that the ED lacked substantial evidence against him. However, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had planned a protest regarding Delhi’s water shortage, with Water Minister Atishi and Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita, scheduled to visit Raj Ghat. Atishi was expected to start an indefinite hunger strike to draw attention to the issue.
Kejriwal was granted bail on Thursday, with conditions set for his release on Friday upon posting a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh. Despite the ED’s request for a 48-hour delay to prepare an appeal, the trial judge declined to postpone the bail order.
Earlier in the day, a Delhi court had reserved its decision on Kejriwal’s plea for bail in the money laundering case tied to the 2021-22 Delhi excise policy, which has since been rescinded. The court also reserved its ruling on Kejriwal’s request to allow his wife to join his medical examination via video conference.
Arrested by the ED on March 21, Kejriwal faces allegations of laundering money acquired from liquor vendors to finance AAP’s election campaign in Goa. Throughout the investigation, Kejriwal and AAP have maintained that the central government is misusing its agencies to target opposition leaders with baseless accusations.
The nation now awaits the High Court’s decision, which will determine Kejriwal’s immediate future and potentially impact the political landscape in Delhi. Post Abbreviation: Kejriwal’s bail blocked; urgent HC hearing granted on ED plea.
