Will Arvind Kejriwal Secure Bail In The Delhi Excise Policy Case?

The Supreme Court is expected to announce its verdict on Friday, September 13, regarding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail petitions and his challenge against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the excise policy case.

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha expressed hope and anticipation for the court’s judgment on Kejriwal’s bail. The Supreme Court’s cause list for September 13 indicates that a bench led by Justice Surya Kant along with Justice Ujjal Bhuyan is scheduled to deliver its verdict at 10:30 a.m.

The bench had reserved its decision on the pleas on September 5. Arvind Kejriwal has filed two petitions challenging the denial of bail and his arrest by the CBI in a corruption case. Arrested on June 26, Kejriwal is contesting the Delhi High Court’s August 5 decision that upheld his arrest, stating that evidence collected post-arrest justified the CBI’s actions. The High Court had allowed him to seek bail from a trial court.

The case involves alleged corruption in the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which has since been repealed. The ED has also filed a money laundering case related to this policy, and Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21.

On July 12, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case and referred questions about the necessity of arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger bench for review.

During a September 5 hearing on the corruption case, Kejriwal challenged the CBI’s argument that he should have first sought bail from the trial court. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the CBI, argued that the Supreme Court had previously directed Kejriwal to approach the trial court in the money laundering case as well.