The Supreme Court “may decide” to grant interim bail to jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, even though it emphasised it has not decided on the matter yet.
The oral remarks came up in court today when the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Dutta was hearing a plea filed by Kejriwal that challenged his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
“This case may take time. But if the case takes time, we may consider the question of interim bail because of the elections,” the bench said. According to Bar and Bench, it also said it was “not saying anything” right away and it “may or may not grant”.
The Hindu said the court asked Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who is appearing for the ED, to “come prepared” on this aspect during the next hearing on May 7. “The court is just being open about what is in its mind. It does not want to catch the parties by surprise,” the bench said.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21, days before polling began, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. He was first sent to ED custody, which was subsequently extended to April 1, and then remanded in judicial custody in Tihar jail.
Before the ED’s remand was extended, Kejriwal spoke passionately in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court, insisting that the “real scam” began after the ED began investigating the case. Read here.
Project Electoral Bond also reported at length on how a Hyderabad firm, which donated electoral bonds to the BJP, has a curious link to the case in which Kejriwal is accused. Click here for the story.
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