Delhi HC Stays Arvind Kejriwal’s Bail: ED’s Urgent Plea Puts AAP Chief Back in Limbo

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday halted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s release on bail after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed an urgent petition just hours before Kejriwal was set to leave Tihar jail. The court stated that Kejriwal would remain in jail until the ED’s petition is heard, which may take another 2-3 days.

The court has also issued a notice to Kejriwal, seeking his response to the ED’s plea that challenges the trial court’s June 20 order granting him bail. “Till the pronouncement of this order, the operation of the impugned order shall remain stayed,” announced Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain.

Earlier in the day, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the ED, argued against the trial court’s decision, calling it “perverse” and citing serious procedural irregularities. “The trial court’s order is completely flawed. The court said there was no direct proof. That’s a wrong statement by the court,” Raju argued before the bench of Justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja.

ASG Raju stressed that the trial court’s decision was based on incorrect facts and dates, which led to a conclusion of mala fide intent without proper reasoning. He criticized the trial court for not considering relevant materials and for dismissing the ED’s concerns without adequate evaluation. “On wrong facts, wrong dates, you come to a conclusion that mala fide. But why, the reason is missing,” Raju stated.

He highlighted the importance of sound legal reasoning in bail decisions, citing a 2014 Supreme Court precedent. “The trial court should not have overlooked relevant aspects and should not have relied on irrelevant considerations,” he asserted.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED over allegations of money laundering linked to the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22. The ED claims that the funds received from liquor sellers were used to finance the Aam Aadmi Party’s campaign in Goa, with Kejriwal being the “kingpin”.