ED will challenge Kejriwal’s bail in Delhi High Court, lower court has given big relief today
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will approach the Delhi High Court tomorrow morning against the trial court’s decision in the Arvind Kejriwal case. Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has granted bail to CM Kejriwal in the excise policy case today. During the hearing, the ED had strongly opposed the bail and said that it has strong evidence against Kejriwal.
The ED will request the High Court tomorrow morning not to release Kejriwal. If the court agrees to a quick hearing and stays the lower court’s decision, Kejriwal will remain in Tihar. But, if the court does not stay the lower court’s decision, Kejriwal will come out of jail by noon.
Court rejected ED’s demand
ED’s special counsel Zoheb Hussain sought a two-day period for accepting bail bonds on bail, so that ED can appeal against the order in the High Court. But the court also rejected ED’s appeal to stay Kejriwal’s bail order for 48 hours. The court clarified that there is no stay on the bail order.
ED’s arguments in court
- During the hearing, the ED had sought to link Arvind Kejriwal with the proceeds of crime and co-accused, while the defense claimed that the prosecution had no evidence to implicate Kejriwal. During the hearing on the bail plea, ASG SV Raju argued that on November 7, 2021, Kejriwal stayed at Hotel Grand Hyatt in Goa during the assembly election campaign and the bill was paid by co-accused Chanpreet Singh. What is the case of excise scam
- The Delhi government had claimed an increase in the government’s revenue by implementing the new excise policy on November 17, 2021. In July 2022, the then Chief Secretary of Delhi submitted a report to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena regarding irregularities in the excise policy.
- On the basis of the report, the LG had recommended an inquiry. On the basis of the Chief Secretary’s report, the Lieutenant Governor had recommended a CBI inquiry on July 22, 2022, citing violations of rules and procedural flaws in the implementation of the new excise policy (2021-22).
- On this, the CBI had registered an FIR and on the basis of the CBI FIR, the ED registered a case of money laundering. After recommending the inquiry, on July 30, 2022, the Delhi government withdrew the new excise policy and restored the old system. Loss of 144.36 crore as per investigative agencies CBI and ED have alleged that irregularities were committed while revising the excise policy and undue benefits were given to licensees. In this, the license fee was waived or reduced. This policy caused a loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the government exchequer.
- ED has alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal is the mastermind and main conspirator of the excise scam. He was involved in a conspiracy to benefit certain individuals and in return for this benefit, bribe was demanded from liquor businessmen. Aam Aadmi Party used the proceeds of crime in the Goa assembly elections, in which Kejriwal is the main decision maker.
