Arvind Kejriwal News: SC Resumes Hearing On Delhi CM's Bail Plea

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The Supreme Court said that it is not considering whether Delhi CM is a politician or not, rather it is considering whether exception is required in view of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case. (File photo)
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case. (File photo)

Arvind Kejriwal Bail Hearing LIVE Updates: The Supreme Court is hearing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest in the excise policy linked-money laundering case. The top court told the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor that if it grants him bail, then it would not allow him to perform his CM duties.

“If we grant you interim bail, we are clear that we won’t let you perform your duties as Chief Minister,” the SC bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said.

The apex court said that it would continue hearing the matter post lunch, adding that it will pass an order at 2:30 pm.

The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor was arrested by the anti-corruption agency on March 21, in connection with a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.

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May 07, 2024 14:51 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: No Order On Interim Bail Today

The ED lawyer, including SG Tushar Mehta, have said that there will be no order on Delhi CM’s interim bail today.

The Supreme Court might hear the matter on Thursday and then decide.

May 07, 2024 14:45 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Hearing Concludes, No Indications On Whether SC Would Pass Any Order Today

May 07, 2024 14:30 IST

Supreme Court LIVE: Kejriwal Asked Me To Trust Nair, Says Sameer Mahendru In Statement

ASG Raju cited Sameer Mahendru’s statements, saying that “Kejriwal asked me to trust this guy Vijay.”

 

May 07, 2024 14:28 IST

Supreme Court LIVE: ASG Raju Reads Statements Regarding Nair And Kejriwal's Connection

May 07, 2024 14:26 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Delhi Court Extends CM's Judicial Custody Till May 20

While Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s hearing is underway in the Supreme Court, a Delhi court on Tuesday extended the AAP chief’s judicial custody till May 20.

Kejriwal was produced in the court through video conferencing.

ED had sought the extension of the AAP chief’s judicial custody as it came to an end today.

Kejriwal’s counsel objected to the ED’s request, saying that the SC is hearing his plea right now.

However, the court said it “will extend the judicial custody till May 20”.

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May 07, 2024 14:21 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Supreme Court Asks ED For Case Files

The Supreme Court asked the Enforcement Directorate for case files.

ASG Raju mentioned the connection between Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Vijay Nair, saying that the latter used to “work from CM’s camp office”.

May 07, 2024 14:20 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Considering Whether Exception Required Due To Elections, Says SC

Justice Khanna said that the top court is not going by whether it is a politician or not. “Every individual would have some special or exceptional circumstances. We are considering whether exception is required in view of elections,” he said.

May 07, 2024 14:15 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Supreme Court Resumes Hearing

May 07, 2024 14:14 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Hearing To Resume Post Lunch, SC Likely To Pass Order At 2:30

The Supreme Court said that it will continue hearing the matter post lunch, adding that it will pass an order at 2:30 pm.

May 07, 2024 14:14 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Won't Let Kejriwal Perform CM Duties If Interim Bail Is Granted, Says SC

“Suppose we release you and you are allowed to participate in elections, you will be performing official duties, it can have cascading efforts,” the top court told Kejriwal’s counsel.

“If we grant you interim bail, we are clear that we won’t let you perform your duties as Chief Minister,” the SC bench said.

The top court told Singhvi that it thought of releasing Kejriwal on interim bail on the elections issue, “else there wouldn’t have been a question”.

SG Mehta requested the top court to “not earmark political leaders as exceptional class”. “The Balloon that is created is that I am being picked up before the election,” Kejriwal’s counsel said.

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May 07, 2024 14:13 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Abhishek Singhvi Says Court Not Granting Bail To 'CM'

Representing the AAP chief, Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the SC, “you are not granting bail to a ‘CM’, this is the caricature of my argument. He is not a habitual offender.”

“Democracy is a part of basic structure, free and fair elections is a part of democracy…is the person a threat to the society,” Singhvi said.

May 07, 2024 14:13 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Delhi CM Only CM Without Portfolios, Says SG Mehta

SG Tushar Mehta said that even in the absence of CM Arvind Kejriwal, the administration is going on. “CM of Delhi is the only CM who does not hold the portfolio, he does not sign any file.”

“Even the Prime Minister signs files and this includes the ministries,” the Solicitor General noted.

Justice Khanna questioned the ED, “how do you carve out an exception for your case?” The top court bench asked the federal agency to “not go on merits now”.

May 07, 2024 14:13 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: SG Mehta Says Giving Delhi CM Bail Will Send Wrong Message

SG Tushar Mehta asked the apex court to consider that the situation here, pertains to the national capital, “whose chief minister has been evading arrest for six months and now comes and says he wants to campaign”.

“This would send a very wrong message and demoralise the common people that if you are powerful, you will enjoy the luxury,” Mehta said.

May 07, 2024 14:12 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Delhi CM Chooses Not To Cooperate, Says SG Tushar Mehta

ASG Raju told the top court that there is no distinction between an offence punishable over 7 years and PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).

Justice Khanna said, “They can certainly apply for bail, that right is there with them, but they will have to satisfy Section 45.”

SG Tushar Mehta said, “There cannot be any deviation because he is a chief minister, there cannot be an exemption that can be carved out for him.”

Mehta argued that Kejriwal was called by the ED six months ago, however, he “went for meditation, then made some other excuse”. He wasted six months, Mehta said, adding that “he might not have been arrested”.

“He chooses not to cooperate,” SG Mehta added.

May 07, 2024 14:12 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: ASG Raju Tells 'What Section 19 Contemplates'

Justice Khanna said that the legislature assumed that somebody may violate Section 19.

Responding to the apex court, ASG Raju said, “It isn’t necessary for me to say in reasons to believe that I have considered all material. In this case, I have considered everything.”

The ED’s counsel specified “what Section 19 contemplates”, saying that the material must show “person guilty of offense”. “That is the only material required to be reflected in reasons to believe,” he added.

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May 07, 2024 14:11 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: At The Time Of Remand, Onus Is On You, Says SC

The ED’s counsel, ASG Raju, presented before the court, the statements of Manguta S Reddy.

The ED told the court that “one need not assume whatever witness tells IO is, he may mislead the investigating agency”. Therefore, ASG Raju said, “investigation need not go in a way that we go to accused first, there could be many hurdles before that.”

The top court asked the ED whether it wants to go through Buchibabu’s statement. Asking “He was arrested by you?” ASG responded saying that he was not arrested.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta noted that Buchibabu had to show in bail, adding that he is putting it on the ED.

“At the time of remand, onus is on you. At the time of bail, it’s on him. He says you have not discharged burden,” Justice Khanna responded.

May 07, 2024 14:11 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: You Have To Be Front-footed, Says Justice Khanna

Raju told the top court that an impression is being created that C Arvind — former PS to Manish Sisodia — named Kejriwal. He had just said that a meeting took place in the Delhi CM’s presence, Raju added.

Justice Khanna responded saying, “Let me put it this way, in this case, you have to be front-footed, because you are the one who has passed under Section 19.”

“Your defense is non-reference to this earlier statement which is of no consequence in my grounds to believe because, those statements are not relevant so far as petitioner is concerned,” Justice Khanna said.

May 07, 2024 14:10 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: SC Asks ED Why It Took So Much Time For Investigation

The Supreme Court asked the ED on why it took so much time for the investigation. ASG Raju responded saying, “It’s prerogative of the investigation agency.”

“If I start asking about Kejriwal at the outset, it would have been called malafide. It takes time to understand. we can’t put it overnight. Things have to be confirmed,” ASG Raju said.

The ASG specified that Kejriwal’s name was first mentioned in Buchibabu’s statement in February, 2023.

May 07, 2024 14:10 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates | ED Not Concerned With Politics: ASG Raju Tells SC

ASG Raju, clarifying the agency’s stance, said, “It is not as if the case is politically motivated, ED is not concerned with politics.”

ASG Raju said that there is proof of Kejriwal staying at a 7-star hotel in Goa during election, adding that the bill was accounted for by Charanpreet Singh of Chariot Enterprises. Notably, Singh has also been arrested.

May 07, 2024 14:09 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Supreme Court Asks ED To Produce Case Files

ASG Raju told the Supreme Court, “The time when we began investigation, it was not directed towards him (Kejriwal), in later stages, when we got evidence, then only the probe shifted in that direction.”

The federal agency’s representative presented statements of several approvers before the top court.

The apex court bench asked the ED to produce case files before. “The first two volumes…we want to see officer notings one before Sarath Reddy’s arrest and one till his statement under CrPC Section 164. And one before Manish Sisodia was arrested and the one after,” Justice Khanna said.

The top court bench told the anti-corruption agency that it needs to see “what happened to the investigation from one stage to the other”. “The issue before us is very limited and it is compliance of Section 19, we need to see what is the nature of enquiry,” it said.

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May 07, 2024 14:09 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: Rs 100 Crore Cash Transferred By Hawala Routes, Says ED To SC

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for anti-corruption agency, told the court that 176 phones have been destroyed and cash has been sent to Hawala operators.

“Cash transactions for Rs 100 crores were transferred by hawala routes and spent in other states,” ASG Raju said.

Justice Khanna said Rs 100 crore was “proceeds of crime”, asking how it became Rs 1,100 crores in two or three years. “That will be a phenomenal rate of return!” Justice Khanna said.

ASG Raju specified that the wholesaler profit is Rs 590 crore. The top court responded saying that the difference was of about Rs 338 crores, adding that the entire amount “cannot be proceeds of crime”.

May 07, 2024 14:08 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: What Happened In Supreme Court On May 3?

Earlier on May 3, the Supreme Court hinted at the possibility of it considering the question of interim bail for Kejriwal because of the elections.

Justice Khanna had asked the Enforcement Directorate to be ready for the possibility of interim bail for the Delhi Chief Minister.

However, it cautioned the lawyers that the Court is just being open about it.

“Do not assume anything. Do not read anything into it. We are not saying anything either way…The Court is just being open about what is in its mind. It does not want to catch the parties by surprise. It may or may not grant interim bail, but is ready to consider the possibility,” Justice Khanna had said.

May 07, 2024 14:08 IST

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE Updates: When Was Delhi CM Arrested?

The federal agency arrested the Delhi CM on March 21 in the excise policy scam. He faces allegations of direct involvement in a conspiracy related to the formulation of excise policy favouring specific individuals.

He is also accused of soliciting kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange for favours, as claimed by the probe agency.

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