Arvind Kejriwal to Head Back to Tihar Jail: Delhi Court to Pronounce 'Medical' Bail Order on June 5 - 2024-06-02

The Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday said it would pronounce on June 5 the order on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal 's bail plea in the ED's money laundering probe. Kejriwal 's bail ends on June 1 following which he will have to surrender on tomorrow, i.e., June 2.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja reserved the order, observing that the application was for grant of interim bail on medical grounds and not for the extension of the interim bail granted by the SC. Arguing against giving Kejriwal a bail extension, ED told the court that Kejriwal has suppressed facts and made false statements, including about his health. Kejriwal 's counsel argued that the CM is ill and needs medical treatment.

The Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor was arrested by the central investigative agency on March 21 in their money laundering investigation in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy. The chief minister was earlier granted interim bail by the Supreme Court to allow him to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He campaigned in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and Maharashtra following his release.

After the judge reserved the order, Kejriwal 's counsel urged the court to pass the order on Saturday itself, considering that he has to surrender on Sunday. The judge, however, declined the request, saying the arguments and the documents submitted by the advocates of the accused as well as the prosecution was voluminous.

Kejriwal on Thursday moved the court seeking a bail after the SC refused to give an extension as the order was already reserved on challenge to arrest. On May 28, the Rouse Avenue Court reserved the order on cognizance point on ED's Supplementary chargesheet (prosecution complaint) filed against Kejriwal .

While moving SC seeking an extension of the interim bail, Kejriwal said that he lost 7 kilograms in jail. His petition said that he has not been able to regain even after his release and renewing his earlier lifestyle to the extent possible, it said.

"In the meantime, recent test reports confirm that the Appellant has also developed an unusually high blood glucose level as well as high ketone levels in urine, which indicate that in addition to increased blood sugar level, the appellant may have also developed kidney related complications and kidney damage," it said.