Delhi High Court Stays Bail Order for CM Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi High Court has stayed the trial court’s order that granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy “scam.”

The High Court announced that it will pass its order on the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea within two to three days.

The ED has contested the Rouse Avenue Court’s decision to grant bail to Kejriwal in the Delhi Excise policy-related money laundering case. The challenge pertains to the order dated June 20, 2024, issued by the Special Judge (Vacation Judge) of the Rouse Avenue District Courts, which granted bail to Kejriwal.

In its bail order, the trial court stated that the ED had failed to provide direct evidence against Kejriwal concerning the proceeds of the alleged crime. However, the ED’s petition argues that the June 20 order was issued without giving the ED adequate opportunity for a hearing and without considering that, based on the case facts, all courts up to the Supreme Court have recognized that the offence of money laundering has been committed. Therefore, the ED contends that regular bail should not have been granted under the mandatory twin conditions of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).