A day after a court granted bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi High Court has halted his release after the Enforcement Directorate opposed the trial court’s order, Bar and Bench reported.
The ED mentioned its plea for urgent listing, claiming that it wasn’t given a chance to present its case before the trial court in the bail matter – linked to a money laundering case that is connected to the alleged excise policy scam. The court then reportedly said the bail should not be given effect until the court hears the matter.
Kejriwal was first arrested by the ED in the liquor policy case on March 21. The arrest had come weeks before the general elections, and after at least nine ED summons. The central agency had reached the Delhi CM’s residence hours after the Delhi High Court had denied any interim protection to Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. In the run up to the arrest, several AAP leaders had alleged a “big conspiracy” against the Delhi CM.
In the subsequent court proceedings, the ED had termed Kejriwal the “kingpin” of the alleged liquor scam.
On May 10, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal until June 1 for campaigning for the elections. He returned to the Tihar jail at the end of the seven phase of polls.
Newslaundry has extensively reported on Kejriwal's arrest and the alleged liquor scam. Read here.
Update at 4:52 pm: The High Court has stayed Arvind Kejriwal's bail hearing till the final pronouncement on the ED's stay application. The court said it is reserving the order for two-three days.
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