HC to hear ED’s plea against Kejriwal’s bail on March 21
The Delhi High Court on Friday set March 21 as the date to hear the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea challenging the bail granted to former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy.
Justice Vikas Mahajan adjourned the hearing following a request from the ED’s counsel, a move opposed by Kejriwal’s senior counsel, who highlighted repeated delays by the agency.
Kejriwal’s lawyer criticised the ED’s request for an adjournment, arguing that the delay unfairly prolonged the case.
“The ED has taken several dates over the past months. Why should this sword continue to hang over him?” Kejriwal’s counsel asserted. Referring to other accused in the case who have already been granted bail, he added, “If bail has been granted to all 15 accused, why should it be kept pending for him?”
In response, the ED’s counsel argued that the delay did not harm Kejriwal since he was already on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court.
“No prejudice is caused to him. He is already on interim bail,” the ED’s representative stated.
Justice Mahajan ultimately ruled in favour of setting the next hearing for March 21.
On July 12, 2024, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case while referring larger questions related to the “need and necessity of arrest” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a constitutional bench.
