Delhi court denies interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi court denies bail to Arvind Kejriwal

A special judge at the Rouse Avenue Court on June 5 dismissed the interim bail plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal.

Judge Kaveri Baweja, who passed the order, said "I have issued certain directions for his diagnostic tests to be conducted." The court has extended his judicial custody till June 19, he will now be produced before a vacation judge on that day.

During the course of the hearing today, Kejriwal's lawyer Vivek Jain raised some concerns about Kejriwal's health. The judge however asked him to move an appropriate application in this regard.

Kejriwal had moved a plea for interim bail, seeking seven days time to undergo a series of tests owing to his ill health. He has also filed a plea for regular bail.

At the hearing on June 1, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju raised a host of preliminary objections pertaining to the maintainability and the intention of the plea.

According to the senior lawyers, Kejriwal had a media interview on May 31 claimed that he would surrender on June 2. However, he is now pursuing a plea for interim bail. "Is he taking a chance with this court?" SG Mehta questioned.

The government's lawyers contended that Kejriwal suppressed the fact that the apex court had refused to extend his interim bail beyond June 1 and his bail plea cannot be entertained solely on this basis. ASG Raju said: "The (Supreme Court) order categorically says he will surrender by June 2. The SC order has not been modified till date. He is technically asking for extension of interim bail granted by the SC and that is not permissible."

Background to the issue:

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED in late March after he skipped nine summons issued to him by the law enforcement agency from October 2023. Kejriwal challenged the validity of his arrest first at the Delhi HC, the court however rejected his plea on April 10.

He moved the Supreme Court against this order. On May 10, the SC gave him an interim bail to campaign for the now concluded general election. The interim bail was to expire on June 2, wherein the Delhi CM was directed to surrender.

The court reserved his main plea challenging his arrest. However, it permitted him to move the lower court in case he needs bail. However, on May 27, Kejriwal filed an application for extension of interim bail at the Supreme Court on health grounds.

On May 29, the Supreme Court's registry refused to list Kejriwal's plea for extension of the interim bail, saying the court had granted him the liberty to move the lower court .

He thereby  moved the Rouse Avenue court for an interim bail.