The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): During a Supreme Court session addressing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest on money laundering charges, questions arose as to why he had not sought bail through a trial court. The court has scheduled to continue the hearing of his plea next Tuesday.
Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta of the Supreme Court bench inquired why Kejriwal bypassed the trial court for bail. Representing Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi listed multiple reasons, including claims of an unlawful arrest.
The arrest, executed by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21, followed the Delhi High Court’s decision denying Kejriwal protective measures against the federal anti-money laundering body. Presently, Kejriwal is held under judicial custody in Tihar Jail.
The Delhi High Court had earlier, on April 9, affirmed the legality of Kejriwal’s arrest, noting that the ED had minimal alternatives after he ignored multiple summonses and declined to participate in the investigation.
During the proceedings, Singhvi contended that neither the refusal to secure interim bail nor the non-compliance with giving a statement constituted valid grounds for arrest. He argued, “I responded promptly to CBI calls and answered ED notices comprehensively. I declared my intent not to attend. Yet, you cannot justify an arrest merely on grounds of non-appearance,” as per a report by LiveLaw.
