New Delhi:

Granting bail to Arvind Kejriwal will not “demoralise” the Delhi High Court, which last month refused the Chief Minister relief over his arrest by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy scam, the Supreme Court said Thursday. A bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Surya Kant waved away the federal agency’s argument against releasing the AAP leader, saying, “Don’t say that.”

Appearing for the CBI, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju also argued that Mr Kejriwal had incorrectly bypassed the lower court – i.e., Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court – and approached the High Court for bail.

“He approached High Court without going to Sessions Court… on merits, trial court could have seen it first. High Court can only see in exceptional cases…” he said, declaring releasing Mr Kejriwal now would demotivate the High Court.

The CBI’s logic also drew a sarcastic swipe from AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who posted on X, “If the Sun rises from the East, it will demoralise the West.”

In early August the High Court rejected Mr Kejriwal’s bail plea, directing him to approach the sessions court for relief. The AAP, however, opted to move the country’s top court, citing its observation in the release of ex Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, that “sending the appellant back to the trial court would be like playing a game of snakes and ladders…”

After Thursday’s hearing the top court reserved its verdict on Mr Kejriwal’s bail plea. The court also reserved its verdict on a separate plea challenging the CBI’s arrest of the Chief Minister.

The AAP chief was arrested by the CBI in June; he was taken into custody at the Rouse Avenue Court shortly after securing bail for his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the same case.

READ | “Insurance Arrest By CBI”, Kejriwal Argues For Bail In Supreme Court

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Mr Kejriwal, criticised the CBI’s arrest as an “insurance” to keep the AAP leader in jail for as long as possible, particularly with the Delhi Assembly election due early next year. Mr Singhvi pointed out Arvind Kejriwal had received bail in the ED case, which meant he had fully satisfied the ‘triple test’ legal principle for release.

READ | “Travesty Of Justice”: Manish Sisodia Gets Bail, Supreme Court Slams Delay

It was also pointed out that all others accused in the alleged liquor policy scam – Mr Sisodia and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, as well as Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha – had bail.

READ | ‘Just Because Woman Is Educated…’: Top Court As K Kavitha Gets Bail

“Prolonged incarceration cannot be there…” Mr Singhvi said, referring to statements by the top court in releasing Mr Sisodia, “Is ‘triple test’ satisfied? Yes… in the Manish Sisodia judgment, the court held that in this particular case of excise policy, trial is impossible to finish.”

Mr Kejriwal has been in jail since late-March. He received temporary reprieve in June, before Delhi voted in the general election, but had to return to Tihar Jail after the results were out.

The ED and CBI contend Arvind Kejriwal played a key role in forming of a new liquor excise policy for Delhi, which allowed him to sell wholesale licences and get kickbacks, around Rs 100 crore of which, the authorities claim, came from a ‘South group’ led by the BRS’ K Kavitha.

This money, the agencies allege, was used to fund the AAP’s election expenses in Goa.

Mr Kejriwal, the AAP, and other accused have denied the charge, counter-accusing rivals Bharatiya Janata Party, to whose government at the centre the agencies answer, of mounting a campaign against opposition politicians and parties, particularly before elections.

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New Delhi:

AAP leader Manish Sisodia was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail Friday evening – even as the dark clouds hovering over the national capital all day broke to shed much-needed rain – hours after the Supreme Court granted the ex-Deputy Chief Minister bail in the alleged liquor policy scam.

Mr Sisodia – who held multiple portfolios while a member of the Delhi government, including Education – was received by jubilant AAP supporters. And standing in the rain, he gave a short speech.

“Ever since this order came in the morning, every inch of my skin has been feeling indebted to Babasaheb (Ambedkar). I don’t understand how (I) will pay this debt to Babasaheb…”

READ | “Travesty Of Justice”: Manish Sisodia Gets Bail, Supreme Court Slams Delay

“I have come out of jail due to your love, God’s blessings and the power of truth, and biggest of all, the dream of Babasaheb – that if any dictatorial government comes to power and puts Opposition leaders behind bars by forming dictatorial laws, then this country’s Constitution will protect them…”

#WATCH | AAP leader Manish Sisodia says, “I have come out of jail due to your love, God’s blessings & power of truth, and biggest of all, the dream of Babasaheb that if any dictatorial government comes to power and puts Opposition leaders behind bars by forming dictatorial laws,… pic.twitter.com/DCHDuVYGyE

— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2024

“I assure you, with this power of the Constitution, (Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal will come out of jail as well…” Mr Sisodia said, after which he left for Mr Kejriwal’s residence in Delhi’s Civil Lines area.

Like himself, the Chief Minister was arrested, in March, by both federal agencies in the liquor policy case. Mr Kejriwal has received bail in the case filed by the Enforcement Directorate but not the CBI.

Earlier today, in a series of powerful observations the Supreme Court called Manish Sisodia’s nearly 18-month incarceration a “travesty of justice” and asked tough questions of the trial court and the Delhi High Court for failing to consider the violation of his right to liberty by keeping him “behind bars for unlimited time”. Mr Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in February 2023.

NDTV Explains | “Like Snakes And Ladders”: Why Court Granted Bail To Sisodia

“In a matter pertaining to the life and liberty of a citizen – which is one of the most sacrosanct rights guaranteed by the Constitution – a citizen cannot be made to run from pillar to post,” a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan had said.

Mr Sisodia could not be made to run “from pillar to post” for bail, the court said.

Mr Sisodia’s party has welcomed his release, calling it “victory of truth”.

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, in a euphoric post on X (formerly Twitter), declared “the entire country is happy today as Manish Sisodia, hero of the Delhi education revolution, got bail.”

“This verdict is a slap on Centre’s dictatorship. He was in jail for 17 months. His life was destroyed in those months. He could have worked for education of children in that time,” Sanjay Singh – who was also arrested, and later granted bail by the top court, in this case – said.

“Satyamev Jayate,” Delhi Education minister Atishi posted on X.

In releasing Mr Sisodia, the court also made critical observations on the federal agencies’, one example of which was Justice Gavai saying, “In this case 493 witnesses (were) named (and) there is not remotest possibility that Manish Sisodia’s trial will conclude in (the near) future.”

On the question of Mr Sisodia allegedly tampering with evidence, the court pointed out “most evidence is documentary” and that these documents were already with the probe agencies.

The court has, though, imposed certain conditions on Mr Sisodia, including demanding he surrender his passport and report to the Investigating Officer every Monday.

The court has also warned Mr Sisodia he will be returned to jail if there is tampering of evidence.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court today granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, who had been in custody for 17 months, in connection to the Delhi liquor policy case. Reacting to the news, Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, expressed her relief, stating, “Justice can be delayed, not denied.”

भगवान के घर देर है अंधेर नहीं

— Sunita Kejriwal (@KejriwalSunita) August 9, 2024

The legal battle surrounding the Delhi excise policy case has seen multiple high-profile arrests, including that of Arvind Kejriwal. On Thursday, a Delhi court extended Mr Kejriwal’s judicial custody until August 20 in the ongoing corruption case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who presided over the hearing, extended Mr Kejriwal’s custody after he appeared before the court via video conference.

The court is scheduled to consider a supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI against Mr Kejriwal on August 12. The supplementary charge sheet is expected to further detail the allegations against the AAP chief, who has been named as one of the “main conspirators” in the case. Judge Baweja noted the CBI’s concerns that Mr Kejriwal might attempt to influence witnesses if released, justifying the extension of his custody.

Mr Kejriwal, 55, was initially arrested by the CBI on June 26 while already in judicial custody at Tihar Jail, where he was being held in connection with a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). His arrest by the ED had occurred earlier on March 21.

Despite being granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in the ED case on July 12, Mr Kejriwal remains in Tihar Jail as he has yet to furnish the required bail bond. 

New Delhi:

A Delhi court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in money laundering and corruption cases related to the alleged liquor policy scam.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended Mr Kejriwal’s custody in a money laundering case, being probed by the Enforcement Directorate, till July 31, while his judicial custody in a corruption case, lodged by the CBI, was extended till August 8.

The judge also extended the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha and other accused till July 31 in the money laundering case.

The accused were produced before the court through video conference.

The Supreme Court had earlier granted interim bail to Mr Kejriwal in the ED case, however, he continues to be lodged in Tihar jail here as he has not furnished the bail bond in the case.

He is in judicial custody in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in its chargesheet filed against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha, has stated that she was involved in the manipulation and tweaking of the Delhi Excise Policy.

During the investigation, the role of the accused, Ms Kavitha has surfaced not only in the collection of upfront money but also in the transfer of ill-gotten money to Goa through the Hawala channel, stated CBI.

It has been revealed that her co-accused associates, viz., Abhishek Boinpally and PA Ashok Kaushik, were involved in the transfer of ill-gotten money to Goa through the Hawala channel.

It has been revealed that the accused Arvind Kumar Singh, who was posted and functioning as Production Controller-Cum-Commercial Head of India Ahead News, owned by the accused Mootha Gautham and Abhishek Boinpally, the co-accused associate of the accused K Kavitha, has acted as a conduit of the accused persons of the South Group and played a major role in transfer of ill-gotten money of Rs 7.10 crore to Goa from Delhi through Hawala Channel.

The Rouse Avenue Court on Monday took cognizance of the Supplementary chargesheet filed against BRS leader K Kavitha by the CBI in the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja, after taking cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet directed to produce Kavitha before the court through video conferencing on July 26.

The court has directed us to supply a copy of the supplementary charge sheet to the counsel for Kavitha and others.

The matter has been listed for scrutiny of documents on the next date of hearing.

The Court on July 8 reserved an order on cognizance of the charge sheet (third supplementary charge sheet in this case.)

Advocate DP Singh had submitted that cognizance of the offence has already been taken. We are aware that a policy was made and the influence of South Group was there. All key people in the group worked under Kavitha’s command.

He also read over the statements of TDP MP Magunta S Reddy, who met Delhi CM Kejriwal on March 16, 2021. His son, Raghav Magunta, also confirmed this.

He also submitted that there is a list of statements we are relying upon, including Sarath Reddy, Gopi Kumaran and Raghav Magunta. There are many people who will ultimately speak against Kavitha.

cognizance of the offence is already taken, this charge sheet is only for the limited purpose of consideration and summoning of this accused, DP Singh said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet against BRS leader K Kavitha in the Delhi Excise Policy case on June 6. This is the third supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI in the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Kavitha is in judicial custody in both CBI and ED cases. She was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 15. Thereafter, she was arrested by the CBI on April 11.

On July 1, the Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the bail petitions moved by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in CBI and ED cases related to the Excise Policy case.

The plea moved by Kavitha stated that she is a mother of two children, one of whom is a minor presently under shock and is undergoing medical supervision. Kavitha, in her fresh bail plea, alleges that there have been attempts to drag her into the scandal by the members of the ruling party at the Centre.

She, through bail plea, submitted that the entire case of the Enforcement Directorate hinges upon statements made by the approver, witnesses or co-accused under Section 50 of the PMLA. The Prosecution Complaints do not put forth a single document which corroborates the statements. There is not a single piece of evidence which points to the guilt of the applicant.

She further stated that the arrest of the applicant is illegal as Section 19 of the PMLA has not been complied with.

Neither has any corroboration to the allegation of the actual cash transaction nor any money trail is forthcoming, therefore, the satisfaction of guilt as expressed in his arrest order is merely a sham and a pretence, she stated.

The ED and the CBI had alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, the licence fee was waived or reduced and the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority’s approval.

The beneficiaries diverted “illegal” gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection, the probe agencies said.

As per the allegations, the Excise Department had decided to refund the earnest money deposit of about Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against the set rules.

Even though there was no enabling provision, a waiver on tendered licence fees was allowed from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022, due to COVID-19, the probe agency said and there was an alleged loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed BRS leader K Kavitha’s bail pleas in two cases of corruption and money laundering linked to the alleged excise policy scam.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who had reserved the order on the two bail pleas of K Kavitha on May 28, rejected the petitions.

A detailed order is awaited.

K Kavitha had challenged the trial court’s May 6 order by which her bail applications in the CBI’s corruption case as well as the ED’s money-laundering case were dismissed.

K Kavitha’s lawyer submitted that of the 50 accused in the excise case, she is the lone woman and urged the court to consider granting her bail as law keeps women on a different pedestal.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Kavitha’s bail pleas, saying she is powerful enough to influence witnesses.

Ms Kavitha is in judicial custody in the two cases.

The “scam” pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 that was later scrapped.

The ED arrested Ms Kavitha (46) from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15. The CBI arrested her in the Tihar jail.

In her bail plea in the ED case, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, had said she had “nothing to do” with the excise policy and there was a criminal conspiracy against her “orchestrated by the ruling party at the Centre with the active connivance of the ED”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The special CBI court that denied relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case has said that on the basis of material on record, it cannot be said at this stage that the arrest is illegal, but warned that the probe agency should not be “overzealous”.

Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to CBI’s custody for three days — two less than what the agency had asked for. He was arrested by the CBI inside the Rouse Avenue court. Earlier, the Rouse Avenue court had granted him bail, but the Delhi High Court paused it and reserved its order. Mr Kejriwal moved the Supreme Court, but got no relief. The high court thereafter denied him bail.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader’s wife has alleged that the “whole system” is trying to ensure he stays in jail. “Arvind Kejriwal got bail on June 20. Immediately ED got a stay. The very next day CBI made him an accused. And today he was arrested. The whole system is trying to ensure that the man does not come out of jail. This is not law. This is dictatorship, this is emergency,” Sunita Kejriwal said in a post on ‘X’.

In its order for a three-day CBI custody, the Rouse Avenue court has said “investigation is the prerogative of the investigating agency”. “There are certain safeguards provided in the law and at this stage, on the material on record, it cannot be said that the arrest is illegal. The agency, however, should not be overzealous,” it has added.

The court has asked the central agency to produce Mr Kejriwal in court on Saturday. The court has said Mr Kejriwal may meet his wife for an hour daily. “Let the medically prescribed diet/home cooked food be provided to the accused during the police custody remand. Accused may also be provided with the prescribed medicines as well as glucometer during the remand. Accused be also allowed to take spectacles,” it has said, detailing the custody conditions.

Mr Kejriwal’s counsel, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, had stressed that it was not necessary to arrest him at this stage and questioned the timing of the arrest. “This court has to consider, at this stage, the merits of the case. The timing may be circumspect but it is not the clear criterion for declaring an arrest illegal,” it said.

The AAP leader’s counsel told that the CBI had questioned him in this connection for nine hours in April last year. Mr Kejriwal then addressed the court directly and recounted what he had told CBI when he was asked why the now-scrapped liquor policy was framed.

“I told them (the CBI) there were three points. First – increase revenue. Second – reduce crowds to handle law and order. Third – opening of liquor shops in the right proportion (i.e., equal distribution across the city). I had given instructions to Manish Sisodia (his former deputy, who, in February last year, was the first to be arrested in this case) to keep these three things in mind in the policy,” he said.

“It is a poor citizen vs might of the State. This case is pending since August 2022. I was called as a witness… I appeared and, for nine hours, I assisted. Not a single notice (from the CBI) since then. How did they shift from a witness to an accused… it is a long distance to cover,” the counsel argued.

The CBI termed the AAP leader’s allegations “unnecessary”. We could have done this before, or even during, the election. We did not… it (the interrogation) was done only after the court’s permission.”

The agency pointed out it was not bound to announce the start of an investigation. “Suppose there is an inquiry… I don’t have to tell (Mr Kejriwal)… Who I have to tell is to the court – that I need custody. There is no mandate I have to tell the other side about my desire to investigate,” its counsel said.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Monday refused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal immediate relief in his battle to overturn the High Court’s interim stay on a bail order issued last week by a lower court.

The court responded to Mr Kejriwal’s arguments – the High Court erred in staying bail without first perusing the order, and rationale, of the lower court – by saying it would wait till the said order came on record, and the High Court had a chance to re-examine the stay – before acting on the matter.

The court has fixed Wednesday as the next hearing date; the High Court is expected to deliver its full verdict on Tuesday. “It is not proper to interfere when the High Court has reserved its judgement,” the Supreme Court said, “We will keep this petition for hearing for day after tomorrow.”

This was after Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate – which arrested Mr Kejriwal in the liquor policy case March and has opposed bail and medical relief claimed by the Chief Minister – said the High Court is likely to render its verdict within 24 hours.

Earlier, as the day’s (brief) hearing began, Mr Kejriwal’s lawyers argued that the “balance of convenience” is in the Chief Minister’s favour, reasoning there is no substantial reason for the AAP leader to stay in jail. “If bail is reversed, he will certainly go back to jail… as he did after the Supreme Court’s interim release (to campaign for the election),” senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi said.

He was referring to Mr Kejriwal’s release last month – allowed by the top court – to campaign for his party and the Congress-led INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP was pegged back and forced to rely on its allies to form the government.

Mr Singhvi also referred to the top court’s order granting Mr Kejriwal that interim bail, in which it acknowledged the Delhi Chief Minister is not a “habitual offender” or a “flight risk”.

“Why can’t I be free in the interim? I have a judgment in my favour…” he continued, responding to the court suggesting the Chief Minister be patient for 24-48 hours till the High Court reads its order.

“If we pass order now, we will prejudge the issue. This is not a subordinate court…” he was told.

New Delhi:

After the Delhi court granted bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an alleged excise police case, Aam Aadmi Party’s Legal team said that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had no proof against the party’s leaders and alleged that the case was a conspiracy of Bharatiya Janata Party.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday on the party supremo getting bail, AAP Legal Cell’s state president Sanjeev Nasiar alleged that the ED was working under “someone’s pressure.”

“Truth has won. This case was false, it was a conspiracy of the BJP party. This is a huge win for the AAP party for the country and all of us. ED has no proof against any of our leaders and they are working under someone’s pressure. They wanted to finish the political career of Arvind Kejriwal but they failed in this,” Advocate Sanjeev Nasiar said.

Advocate Rishikesh Kumar, part of AAP’s legal team, said, “Arvind Kejriwal granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh. By tomorrow afternoon, Arvind Kejriwal will come out of jail. This is a big win for AAP leaders, country and people.”

AAP National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar claimed that regular bail in a PMLA case is nothing less than an acquittal.

“This case is completely fake, the whole case has been written in the BJP office. We are very grateful to the court for giving a historic verdict,” Priyanka Kakkar said.

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said that this decision will become a big example in our law system.

“All the institutions of the country whether it is ED, CBI, all have been taken over. Only the judiciary is left on which people trust. In PMLA, most people get relief only from the Supreme Court. Usually, lower courts never give relief. So it is evident that the central government has no proof in this case,” he said.

Punjab Minister and AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema thanked the judiciary for granting bail to the party supremo. “A false case was done against our convenor Arvind Kejriwal. Today the justice has won,” he said.

Meanwhile, AAP leader and Minister of Power of Punjab Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Constitution has won after Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

“Today the Constitution has won…A leader was arrested just ahead of the elections and today his release has made democracy win…people’s faith in the court has strengthened,” said Harbhajan Singh ETO.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said there is a “wave of happiness” in the Aam Aadmi Party.

“Arvind Kejriwal getting bail is a slap on the face of the opponents of democracy, a very big slap. This happiness will be more when he returns. Now his voice will be heard openly in the House as well,” Mr Goel said.

Vacation judge Nyay Bindu of Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Thursday granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal on furnishing bail bond of Rs 1 lakh. However, the ED opposed the bail application.

The court refused the request of ED to postpone the process of filing of bail bond for 48 hours. ED requested the postponement so that they could avail their legal remedy to challenge the order at the High Court. The court has also said that the bail order has not been stayed.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a regular bail plea before a court in New Delhi, which is slated to hear it at 2 pm today, in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

Mr Kejriwal was ordered to be released on interim bail till June 1 by the Supreme Court in view of the ongoing general elections.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court registry had refused to accept the application moved by him seeking a seven-day extension of interim bail to undergo medical examinations, including a PET-CT scan.

The Supreme Court registry said that the top court had already reserved its verdict in the matter and the application seeking a 7-day extension has no relation to the main petition.

As Supreme Court had allowed him to move the trial court for obtaining regular bail, the application is not maintainable, it added.

As per the Aam Aadmi Party, Chief Minister Kejriwal’s health has deteriorated since he was arrested in the alleged Delhi excise scam.

The party has said that he has lost 7 kg in weight after his arrest and his Ketone levels are also very high indicating a serious medical disorder.

The party has further said that the Chief Minister was required to do medical tests and seven days were needed for this.

Earlier, the top court had directed him to surrender back to Tihar Jail on June 2.

The top court on May 17 had reserved its verdict on Chief Minister Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest and subsequent remand by the federal anti-money laundering agency in the excise policy case.

It said he could approach the trial court for a grant of regular bail notwithstanding the fact that the top court reserved judgment in the matter.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)