Supreme Court Update: Withdrawal of Petition by Delhi CM in Excise Policy Case
In a recent development at the Supreme Court, the Special Bench led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna, MM Sundresh, and Bela Trivedi convened to deliberate on the petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The petition, which challenged his arrest in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case, was permitted to be withdrawn by the Chief Minister.
Background of the Case: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was taken into custody by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) at his residence on March 21, 2024, over allegations related to the Delhi Excise Policy case. Following his arrest, a writ petition was filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, contesting the legality of the ED’s action.
Judicial Proceedings: Prior to the Supreme Court’s hearing, the Delhi High Court had called for the ED’s stance on the maintainability of Kejriwal’s plea, which objected to the summons served to him. The High Court granted the ED a two-week period to present its response, scheduling the next hearing for April 22, 2024.
Bail and Allegations: In an earlier session, the Rouse Avenue Court had set bail conditions for Kejriwal, requiring a bail bond of ₹15,000 and a surety amounting to ₹1 lakh. The ED’s probe brought to light allegations that K Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council, along with others, had colluded with senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) figures, including Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. The collusion allegedly aimed to secure preferential treatment in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise policy. In return for these alleged favours, a substantial sum of ₹100 Crore is claimed to have been paid to AAP leaders.
Current Status: With the Chief Minister’s withdrawal of the petition, the focus now shifts to the subsequent legal proceedings and the ED’s forthcoming reply in the High Court.