On Thursday, a court in Delhi postponed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea hearing in a money laundering case linked to the now-defunct liquor policy until June 1. Kejriwal has petitioned for both regular bail and interim bail in this matter.
Kejriwal had initially filed a plea in the trial court, seeking bail in the case related to the liquor policy and its alleged money laundering implications.
The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, declined to entertain Kejriwal’s request for a seven-day extension of his interim bail in the liquor policy case. The court registry rejected the application, citing Kejriwal’s option to approach the trial court for regular bail, rendering the plea non-maintainable.
The AAP chief had requested a seven-day extension to his interim bail, scheduled to conclude on June 1, citing medical reasons. In his plea, Kejriwal asserted, “Unexplained weight loss is a symptom of life-threatening diseases. My health condition is partly attributable to the callous behavior of the jail authorities. Another week of bail will allow me to address health complications.”
Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail on May 10 after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the liquor policy case. He has been directed to surrender by June 2, two days prior to the Lok Sabha election vote counting.
The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21 following interrogation at his residence in Delhi’s Civil Lines area.
Meanwhile, the custody of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has been extended until July 6. The Rouse Avenue Court adjourned the hearing on the liquor policy case, being investigated by the CBI, in Sisodia’s matter until July 6.
Sisodia, who previously sought interim bail to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, was arrested in February last year and is currently held in Tihar Jail.