National Desk
3 July
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Delhi High Court will hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea on July 5 in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam case registered by the CBI. Advocate Rajat Bhardwaj, representing Kejriwal, appeared before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, requesting an urgent listing of the petition. However, the bench scheduled the hearing for Friday.
Bhardwaj emphasized that Kejriwal has been placed in illegal custody without proper legal procedure, prompting the bail application. The CBI arrested the Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener Kejriwal from Tihar Jail on June 26.
Sources indicate that Kejriwal has also challenged a trial court’s July 1 decision that rejected his appeal for allowing two additional weekly meetings with his lawyers via video conferencing. Currently, Kejriwal is permitted to meet his lawyers twice a week.
In related developments, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja’s court extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody in the money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam until July 12. Meanwhile, co-accused Manish Sisodia, K. Kavita, and others have had their judicial custody extended until July 25. Another accused, AAP’s Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, has filed an application seeking exemption from personal appearance.
Kejriwal was presented in court via video conferencing. The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to provide the accused with copies of the supplementary charge sheet within two days.
This case stems from allegations of corruption and money laundering linked to the Delhi government’s excise policy, which has put several senior AAP leaders under scrutiny. The legal proceedings and political ramifications continue to unfold, drawing significant public and media attention.