iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The anticipation surrounding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s release from jail took an unexpected turn as the Delhi High Court intervened, staying the implementation of a lower court’s order granting him regular bail.
On Thursday, June 21, the Rouse Avenue Court approved Kejriwal’s bail and ordered his release on a bond of ₹100,000, scheduled for Friday. However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with an alleged excise policy scam, successfully challenged his release by approaching the Delhi High Court.
The High Court clarified that Kejriwal would remain in judicial custody until it issues a final order on the bail plea, following detailed arguments by both sides over two or three days.
The ED had initially requested a 48-hour deferral in signing the bail bond after the court’s pronouncement. However, the trial court firmly rejected this plea.
Subsequently, on Friday, the ED challenged the lower court’s bail order in the High Court. Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju urgently presented the plea before a vacation bench comprising Justices Sudhir Kumar Jain and Ravinder Dudeja.
Raju emphasized the urgency, stating, “The order was pronounced yesterday at 8 p.m., and it has not been uploaded. We were not given a clear opportunity to oppose bail.”
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing CM Kejriwal, countered the stay request by citing legal precedents. He argued, “Cancellation of bail is radically different from granting bail, as established by 10 Supreme Court judgments.”
After considering arguments from both sides, the High Court ruled that the bail order should not be enforced until the matter is heard comprehensively. The Bench clarified, “We have not passed the final order. You may argue as much as you can,” the Bench stated, effectively halting CM Kejriwal’s release.
