The Delhi High Court has instructed Mrs. Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, to remove a video recording of a court hearing in the excise policy case from all social media platforms. This directive was issued in response to a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which sought the removal of the video, claiming that it violated the privacy of individuals involved in the case.
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to announce its decision on the bail applications filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is facing charges in connection with the excise policy case. The case involves alleged irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy, leading to Sisodia’s arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in February 2023. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also been investigating the matter, and Sisodia was subsequently arrested by the ED as well.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed concerns that the Supreme Court’s interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an excise policy case may be perceived as special treatment. Shah stated that the judgment was not a routine judicial order and that many believe Kejriwal received preferential treatment. The minister also criticized Kejriwal’s comments in an election rally, which Shah interpreted as contempt of the Supreme Court. Shah further dismissed claims by AAP leaders that the central government had monitored Kejriwal in jail, emphasizing that the Tihar jail is under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government. Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Shah asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will remain the BJP’s leader until 2029 and beyond.
The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy case. The bail is valid until June 1, after which Kejriwal must surrender and return to jail. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the bail request, arguing that it would set a precedent for preferential treatment of politicians over ordinary citizens. However, the court ruled that granting Kejriwal interim bail for 21 days would not significantly impact the case. Kejriwal’s legal team had objected to the ED’s objection to interim bail, filing a formal complaint with the Supreme Court’s registry and accusing the ED of disregarding legal procedures.
The Supreme Court has questioned the timing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest in connection with the excise policy case, asking the Enforcement Directorate (ED) why the arrest was made right before the Lok Sabha elections. The court raised the question while hearing Kejriwal’s plea challenging a Delhi High Court order which dismissed his plea against arrest by the probe agency.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has vehemently opposed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s objections to his arrest in the excise policy case, stating that he failed to cooperate with the agency despite repeated summons. The ED maintains that the arrest was justified based on ample evidence of Kejriwal’s involvement in the alleged scam. However, Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fiercely condemned the ED’s actions, accusing it of being a political tool of the ruling BJP. AAP asserts that the ED lacks any substantial evidence against Kejriwal and is solely pursuing the arrest to hinder his participation in the upcoming Lok Sabha election campaign.
