Politics National

Posted by admin on 2024-04-15 |

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·       The Supreme Court has declined an urgent hearing of a petition challenging the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on corruption charges related to the discontinued liquor policy case.

 

·       The court gave the arresting agency - the Enforcement Directorate - till April 24 to file its response to the Aam Aadmi Party leader's petition.

 

·       In addition, Delhi's Rouse Avenue court has extended CM Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody until April 23.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will remain in jail until at least April 29, which is 10 days after the Lok Sabha election commences after the Supreme Court refused an urgent hearing of a petition against his arrest on corruption charges, linked now-scrapped liquor policy case.

Court Ruling

The Supreme Court has scheduled another hearing for the last week of April but has declined to consider an interim release without first receiving the ED's response.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta issued notice to the ED and asked the federal agency to file its response on or before April 24. Supreme Court posts the plea of Delhi CM on the week commencing from April 29.

Court Proceedings

Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, had requested an earlier hearing by April 19. However, the bench rejected this plea.

Singhvi began today's proceedings by saying, "I want to present some facts to shock the conscience of the court. There are selective leaks." He further argued that Kejriwal was not named in the ECIR or chargesheet and that the arrest was intended to prevent the Chief Minister from campaigning.

The bench declined Singhvi's request for an earlier hearing date by saying that it has given the shortest possible date. Justice Khanna asked Singhvi to "reserve the arguments" for the next session.

Extended Custody

Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and co-accused K Kavitha until April 23. Kejriwal participated in the hearing via a virtual conference. While passing the order, the court noted that the judicial custody of co-accused K Kavitha is also extended till April 23.

Brief Background

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED in connection with a now-scrapped liquor policy case on March 21. His arrest has led to widespread protests by the Aam Aadmi Party and has also drawn international attention from the United States and Germany.

The Delhi Chief Minister is lodged in Tihar jail at present.