Justice Sanjay Kumar recused himself from hearing a plea by Manish Sisodia, former Delhi Deputy CM, seeking to revive his bail petitions in the excise policy scam cases. The bail hearing was deferred and will be re-listed for the week commencing July 15th.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a supplementary chargesheet against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. The court took cognizance of the chargesheet and issued production warrants for Kejriwal and AAP on July 12, 2024. The ED claims Kejriwal was the “kingpin” of the scam and demanded a ₹100 crore bribe for the AAP’s Goa election campaign. The AAP refuted the allegations, claiming the BJP is targeting them politically.
This article highlights several key events taking place today, including the return of Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address, the launch of the Aam Aadmi Party’s campaign in Haryana, the appointment of a new Indian Army Chief, the RBI deadline for banks and NBFCs, and the Maharashtra CM’s order for clearing pending farmer compensation.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail by a Delhi court in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy. The AAP hailed the decision as a victory of truth and justice, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was given 48 hours to challenge the order in a higher court.
Amidst the ongoing water crisis in Delhi, BJP workers vandalized the Delhi Jal Board office in Chhatarpur, sparking accusations of a conspiracy by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP alleges that water pipelines are being deliberately sabotaged to worsen the situation. BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri, while condemning the vandalism, attributed the incident to public anger over the water shortage. Meanwhile, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused the AAP government of fabricating the water crisis and neglecting maintenance.
In a post-election survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS, the BJP has emerged as the dominant party, holding onto its core bastions and warding off challenges elsewhere. The survey suggests that the BJP will increase its vote share to 40%, while the Congress will rise to 23%. The AAP and Congress ally in some states, while the TMC has limited support outside of West Bengal. State parties face an uncertain future as the BJP and NDA solidify their dominance. The actual vote count on Tuesday will provide a clearer picture of the election outcome.
A political storm has erupted in Delhi over the ongoing water crisis, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trading barbs. Delhi Minister Atishi accused the BJP of playing “dirty politics” amid the crisis, while Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena blamed the AAP government’s mismanagement for the water shortage. LG Saxena alleged that the government has failed to address the issue despite receiving its water quota from neighboring states and accused the AAP of covering up its failures by blaming others.
Bibhav Kumar, a close aide to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Kumar argues that his arrest was illegal and violated the provisions of Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He is seeking a declaration of his arrest as illegal, appropriate compensation, and departmental action against the erring officials involved in his arrest.
On May 28, a court in New Delhi issued summons to Delhi Cabinet Minister and AAP leader Atishi Marlena in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor. The allegations stem from poaching claims made by Atishi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The court has directed Atishi to appear on June 29, while Kejriwal has not been summoned. Kapoor’s defamation suit alleges that AAP leaders were approached by the BJP with offers of cash to join their ranks, claims that have not been substantiated. Atishi has also stated that she received an offer to join the BJP to protect her political career or face arrest.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has alleged that she is receiving rape and death threats following the alleged assault on her by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar on May 13. Maliwal claims that the threats escalated after YouTuber Dhruv Rathee posted a one-sided video against her. She has also accused the AAP leadership of trying to intimidate her into withdrawing her complaint.
