Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Moves Court for Regular Bail in Excise Policy Case

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Excise Policy Scam

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Moves Court for Regular Bail in Excise Policy Case

2024-05-30

Subject: Criminal Law - Money Laundering

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Moves Court for Regular Bail in Excise Policy Case

BY Supreme Today News Desk,

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Supreme Today News Desk

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Rouse Avenue Court seeking regular bail in the money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. This is the first time Kejriwal has applied for regular bail since his arrest in the case on March 21.

Kejriwal has also filed a separate plea seeking interim bail for seven days on medical grounds. The pleas are expected to be taken up for hearing by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at 2 pm today.

Kejriwal is currently out on interim bail till June 1, granted by the Supreme Court, following which he will have to surrender. The Supreme Court registry had earlier refused to list Kejriwal 's plea to extend his interim bail by a week to undergo certain medical tests, stating that he has been granted the liberty to move the trial court for regular bail.

In his plea seeking regular bail, Kejriwal has argued that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has not been able to establish any direct involvement of the Delhi chief minister in the alleged excise policy scam. The agency has alleged that Kejriwal is the "kingpin" of the scam and is directly involved in the use of proceeds of crime accounting to over Rs. 100 crores.

The ED has also claimed that there was a conspiracy coordinated by Vijay Nair and other individuals along with the "South Group" to give extraordinary profit margins to wholesalers, and that Nair was acting on behalf of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia .

In his separate plea seeking interim bail, Kejriwal has cited his "sudden and unexplained weight loss coupled with high ketone levels" as indicative of potential kidney, cardiac, or even cancer-related issues, and has sought a seven-day extension to undergo medical tests.

The liquor policy was scrapped in 2022 after Delhi 's lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into the alleged scam. The CBI and ED have accused AAP leaders of accepting kickbacks from a group of businessmen and politicians in return for crafting a policy favorable to the latter's interest, with a significant chunk of the alleged kickbacks being funneled into the party's election campaign for the Goa assembly polls.

The court's decision on Kejriwal 's bail pleas is eagerly awaited, as it could have significant implications for the ongoing political and legal battle surrounding the Delhi excise policy case.

Bail application - Money laundering case - Excise policy scam - Alleged kickbacks - Profit margins - Conspiracy allegations - Medical grounds - Interim bail - Supreme Court - Trial court

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