10 adjournments in challenge to Arvind Kejriwal bail: Delhi HC grants ED one more opportunity to argue

The Delhi High Court today granted a last and final opportunity to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to argue its plea challenging a trial court order granting bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy case [Directorate of Enforcement vs Arvind Kejriwal]..This was after the ED requested an adjournment of the case, making it the tenth time that the case has been adjourned.Justice Ravinder Dudeja granted the request for adjournment with a stern final opportunity to the ED to argue its case. "In the interest of justice, last and final opportunity is granted to the department," the Court stated. .Panel Counsel Vivek Gurnani appeared for ED and sought for adjournment on behalf of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju as he was arguing before the Supreme Court. Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhri, appearing for Kejriwal, strongly opposed the adjournment, stating that ED has already taken nine adjournments without rhyme or reason."They should be consistent, transparent. This will be the 10th adjournment," he stated.Counsel appearing for Kejriwal added that they have prepared a chart of the previous nine adjournments taken by ED in this matter. The next date of the hearing is on November 10..The ED has challenged a trial court order from June 2024 granting bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case registered in connection with an alleged excise policy scam. Trial court judge Niyay Bindu had ordered Kejriwal's release on a bail bond of ₹1 lakh on finding that ED appeared to be acting with bias against Kejriwal. At the time, the ED had asked the court to stay Kejriwal's release for 48 hours. However, the Court refused the request. .Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 last year on allegations that he was part of a conspiracy to intentionally leave loopholes in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22, to benefit certain liquor sellers.ED alleged that kickbacks received from liquor sellers were used to fund the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) electoral campaign in Goa and Kejriwal, being the National Convenor of the party, was both personally and vicariously liable for the offence of money laundering.Kejriwal denied the allegations and accused the ED of running an extortion racket..Before the trial court granted him regular bail in the ED case, the Supreme Court in May granted interim bail to Kejriwal to allow him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. He returned to jail on June 2 after the interim bail period allowed by the top court came to an end.Subsequently, his regular bail plea on merits was allowed by the trial court, prompting the ED to approach the High Court. Notably, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also earlier arrested Kejriwal in connection with a corruption case registered in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. However, the Supreme Court eventually granted Kejriwal bail in the CBI case in September last year, paving the way for his release from jail. .[Live Coverage]