Delhi High Court Stays Bail Order for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Excise Policy Case

In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court on Friday halted the release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from jail by staying a trial court’s order that had granted him bail in the excise policy case. This move marks a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and adds a new twist to the ongoing legal dispute.

The high court, less than 24 hours after the trial court’s decision, issued a stay on the bail order, responding to a plea from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The high court’s vacation bench, led by Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, announced that it would reserve its decision on the ED’s petition and extend the stay until the verdict is pronounced within two or three days. Justice Jain emphasized the need to thoroughly review the case records before making a final decision.

The AAP had been optimistic following the trial court’s order for Kejriwal’s release, which came as a boost ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly polls. Kejriwal, who has been in custody since March 21, was set to be a pivotal figure in the party’s campaign for a third consecutive term.

The legal battle centers around allegations of irregularities in Delhi’s excise policy for 2021-22, which led to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe initiated by Delhi’s lieutenant governor. Kejriwal is the third AAP leader to be arrested in connection with this case, following former deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh.

The high court’s stay on Kejriwal’s bail follows ED’s arguments that the trial court had insufficiently considered the agency’s evidence and that the bail decision was made hastily. ED’s additional solicitor general, SV Raju, criticized the trial court for not providing adequate time for the agency to oppose the bail application.

In defense, Kejriwal’s legal team, led by senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhari, argued that the trial court’s decision was a well-considered judgment and that Kejriwal’s release posed no threat or prejudice.

This development has ignited a political controversy, with AAP leaders accusing the ED and BJP of undue interference and bias, while BJP leaders defended the judiciary’s independence. The high court is expected to pronounce its decision on the ED’s petition in the coming days, keeping the political and legal community on edge as they await the next steps in this high-profile case.