Delhi Court Denies Interim Bail to Arvind Kejriwal, Extends Judicial Custody Till June 19

On Wednesday, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi denied an interim bail request from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who sought seven days of bail for medical reasons. Kejriwal is currently held in Tihar Jail in connection with a money-laundering case associated with the now-canceled Delhi excise policy.

The court extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody until June 19, following his virtual appearance. Authorities were also instructed to conduct necessary medical examinations for the Aam Aadmi Party leader. Kejriwal’s application for default bail will be reviewed by the court on June 7.

After his arrest in March, Kejriwal was granted a temporary three-week bail to campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which ended on June 1. He returned to pre-trial detention the next day.

On Sunday, the Rouse Avenue Court, presided over by Duty Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal, ordered Kejriwal back to judicial custody until June 5, noting his surrender to Tihar Jail as per Supreme Court instructions. The court was addressing an application from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking Kejriwal’s judicial custody, which was pending due to his interim bail.

The ED had filed an application on May 20 for a 14-day extension of Kejriwal’s judicial custody, which was considered by the court while Kejriwal was out on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court. On June 1, the court reserved its decision on a new interim bail plea from Kejriwal, who sought an additional seven days of bail.

Previously, on April 9, the Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal’s plea for release, rejecting his claims of political vendetta amid the approaching Lok Sabha elections.

In related news, on June 4, the Supreme Court refused to entertain bail pleas from AAP leader Manish Sisodia concerning cases filed by the CBI and ED related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. The court indicated that Sisodia could reapply for bail after the ED and CBI file their final prosecution complaint and charge sheet, respectively, in the cases involving alleged corruption and money laundering.

A prosecution complaint is the ED’s equivalent of a charge sheet.

(With inputs from agencies)