Supreme Court won’t hear Arvind Kejriwal’s request for bail extension

PTC News Desk: In a corruption case involving the Delhi liquor policy, Arvind Kejriwal has requested a seven-day extension of his interim release. However, the Supreme Court has declined to consider his motion. The Court had ordered Mr. Kejriwal to surrender on June 2, the day following the final day of voting, and had given him temporary release last month so he could run in the Lok Sabha elections.

The registrar of the Supreme Court denied the motion, stating that the petition is “not maintainable” because the Delhi Chief Minister was granted permission to get regular bail from the trial court.

On the basis of medical grounds, Mr. Kejriwal had asked for an extension and asked the court to have an urgent hearing today.

Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is representing Mr. Kejriwal, stated in the petition that “a medical examination is necessary to protect him from possible long-term harm to during his prison term, given his health complications and increased risk signs.” The AAP leader will continue to be “visible and available in public” while on bond, he had further emphasized.

“There is no risk of fleeing the legal process and conditions set by Supreme Court (for interim bail) have been followed…” stated Mr. Singhvi.

The investigation team thinks the chief minister of Delhi was instrumental in creating the now-cancelled policy and in requesting kickbacks in exchange for liquor licenses. According to the CBI, the AAP was paid ₹ 100 crore in kickbacks, which it used to finance its election campaigns in Punjab and Goa.

Arriving weeks ahead of the election, the arrest and case have been dubbed a “political vendetta” by the AAP and Mr. Kejriwal, who have rejected all charges. A political dispute between the opposition INDIA group, lead by the Congress, and the ruling BJP was also sparked by the detention.