Excise Policy Case: High Court Extends Stay On Arvind Kejriwal's Bail

The Delhi High Court extended on Tuesday the stay on bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by a trial court in the excise policy case. Kejriwal will remain in jail for the time being, as the high court found fault with the trial court's earlier decision.

The high court criticised the trial court for not adequately considering the extensive documentation involved in the case and not thoroughly evaluating the evidence. It agreed with the Enforcement Directorate's allegations that the trial court did not provide a proper hearing to the ED.

A vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said the trial court should not have issued a ruling that contradicted the earlier order from the Supreme Court. As a result, Kejriwal will not receive any relief at this time and the stay on his bail continues.

The bench pointed out that the earlier interim bail given to Kejriwal by the Supreme Court was only for the specific purpose of the Lok Sabha elections and that the trial court did not appreciate the facts given by the ED.

Kejriwal, who had been arrested on money-laundering allegations while framing the Delhi liquor policy, was set to be released last Friday around 4 p.m. The trial court had granted bail to the chief minister on the condition of non-interference with the investigation after his lawyer argued that the ED had presented no evidence against Kejriwal.