'How long we should hear...': SC during Kejriwal's bail hearing
The Supreme Court on Thursday heard Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's pleas seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged excise policy scam. The bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, questioned the lengthy duration of the bail hearing. "Both sides we will hear. But we are wondering how long we should hear in a bail matter, do ordinary mortals get this much time," Justice Kant asked.
Kejriwal's lawyer argues for bail, challenges arrest
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that the Delhi CM poses no threat in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case. He said that Kejriwal was not mentioned in the CBI FIR and is not a "flight risk." Singhvi also noted that both the top court and a trial court have previously granted him bail in connection with this case.
All co-accused in the case have been released: Singhvi
Singhvi further argued that all the co-accused in the case have been released. "The trial court noted that the timing of the arrest is unusual. The triple test has been fully met. It is ironic that nearly all co-accused have been released, with perhaps only one exception," he said. So far, the Supreme Court has granted bail to top AAP leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K. Kavitha, and AAP's former communication chief Vijay Nair.
The court reserves its order
However, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the CBI, argued that granting bail would demoralize the high court. Justice Bhuyan disagreed with this submission and said, "Don't say that." Ultimately, Justice Surya Kant stated that a bail matter has taken the whole day and asked the two sides to think of other litigants. The court reserved its order.
Kejriwal's arrest, subsequent legal proceedings
Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. On August 14, the Supreme Court refused to grant interim bail to Kejriwal and sought a response from the probe agency on his plea challenging his arrest. The Delhi High Court upheld Kejriwal's arrest as legal on August 5, stating that there was no malice in the acts done by the CBI. It asked him to move the trial court for regular bail.
