The Delhi High Court on Tuesday is set to announce its verdict on the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) petition to stay the trial court’s order granting bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.
Last Thursday, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal, who had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March in connection with the excise policy case. The next day, the Enforcement Directorate approached the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the trial court’s order.
The Delhi High Court imposed an interim stay on Kejriwal’s release pending its decision on the ED’s plea. On Saturday, Kejriwal appealed to the Supreme Court against the interim stay. If the court had not stayed the lower court’s order, Kejriwal would have walked out of Tihar Jail on Friday. Meanwhile, the ED alleged that the trial court’s order was biased and unjust, claiming it was not afforded adequate time to present its arguments.
Kejriwal’s lawyer submitted written arguments to the High Court on Monday, stating that the ED’s claims are “palpably wrong, misleading, and tantamount to subterfuge and misrepresentation.”
“The repeated contention of the ED that it was not given a proper opportunity of hearing and/or all its contentions have not been dealt with warrant to be rejected at the outset. As stated, the order granting bail not only deals with all the relevant contentions of both the sides but also the reasons for grant of bail duly reflect a due and proper application of mind by the Learned Court on each and every aspect,” he said.
Kejriwal is gravely aggrieved by the interim stay, claiming the trial court’s order was well-reasoned and given after considering arguments from both sides, according to submissions.On Monday, Kejriwal’s lawyer told the Supreme Court that Kejriwal could be released while the high court decides on the ED’s plea, arguing he is not a flight risk.
The Supreme Court scheduled the hearing for Kejriwal’s plea on June 26, stating it would wait for the high court’s decision. The court also noted that the Delhi High Court’s interim stay was unusual.