New Delhi, May 7 (Representative) The Supreme Court on Tuesday did not grant any relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and deferred the hearing on his interim Bail application. A bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta heard the arguments of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S V Raju. The SG and ASG also said that they want time to argue on the interim bail of Kejriwal, following which the Apex Court deferred the hearing. The Bench had earlier on Friday asked Arvind Kejriwal why he had not applied for bail. To this Kejriwal’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the Court that they have challenged his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. The Apex Court then told Singhvi that they were ready to grant interim Bail to Kejriwal and also told ASG to come prepared to reply on the interim Bail.The Supreme Court today started hearing the case on considering the question of releasing him on interim bail to campaign amid the ongoing Lok Sabha election.Hearing on the matter continued for one hour during the post-lunch session.Kejriwal had petitioned the Supreme Court in April this year, after his writ petition challenging the ED arrest was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on April 9.
A notice was issued on his plea on April 15, and the matter was directed to be listed in the week commencing April 29.Today the Bench asked several questions from Kejriwal on the issue of granting him interim Bail. “Suppose we release you, and you are allowed to participate in elections, you will be performing official duties…it can have cascading effects…We make it clear, we don’t want you to be performing official duties if we release you,” Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked.Among other arguments, Singhvi pressed that Kejriwal is not a habitual offender and it is not that the court would be “enlarging someone who is a threat to society”. ED however opposed interim relief, stating that politicians cannot be treated as a class apart and that Kejriwal’s case has to be treated on the same pedestal as that of a common man. “He is elected CM of Delhi. There are elections…These are extraordinary circumstances. He’s not a habitual offender…” Sanjiv Khanna said.
Additional Solicitor General S Raju said Arvind Kejriwal destroyed the digital evidence of the Rs 100 crores transaction which was transferred by Hawala routes and spent in other states. Justice Khanna said this prosecution complaint is by ED and not the CBI.Justice Khanna also said Rs 100 crore was proceeds of crime how did it become Rs 1100 cores in 2 or 3 years that will be a phenomenal rate of return. The Delhi CM was arrested on March 21 in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam.A battery of lawyers appeared for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Supreme Court today. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Senior advocate Amit Desai, Advocates Irshad, Gopal Krishan Chenoy Ravinder Pratap Singh, and Rishikesh Kumar are among the lawyers who appeared for Kejriwal. The Bench rose as Justice Sanjiv Khanna had to join another Constitution Bench. The next date of hearing is not yet confirmed.