On Delhi CM Kejriwal’s Bail plea, ED’s “Health didn’t put an end to his campaigning” response.

Arvind Kejriwal’s bail requests were denied by the Enforcement Directorate, which contended that the Delhi Chief Minister appeared well and was currently on an AAP campaign outing.

New Delhi: In the city’s Rouse Avenue Court CM Arvind Kejriwal began his fight for regular bail on Thursday following his arrest in the Delhi Liquor policy scam. Arvind Kejriwal is currently on interim bail given by the supreme court till the 1^st of June.

He has submitted two pleas, one for regular bail and the other to prolong the interim bail set by the Supreme Court by one week. He bases his request on a number of ongoing medical examinations to rule out any “health complications” with his diabetes.

Image Source: Hindustan Times

The Supreme Court has given Kejriwal temporary bail, which is valid through June 1. A PET-CT scan and other medical tests, along with his “sudden and unexplained weight loss coupled with high ketone levels,” which are indicative of kidney, serious cardiac ailments, and even cancer, are among the many medical conditions for which the Delhi Chief Minister had previously asked the top court to extend his interim bail by seven days.

During the subsequent brief hearing, the Enforcement Directorate objected to both pleas. The federal agency demanded at least two days to respond. In the hearing, The Enforcement Directorate informed the court in the nation’s capital on Thursday that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is not eligible for bail due to his actions. The AAP leader’s filing of his pleas just over 48 hours before the bail period ends also appeared to irk the agency.

In addition, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju stated that Kejriwal continued to campaign in the current Lok Sabha elections despite his health. “He is now campaigning in Punjab and is not under arrest. His condition doesn’t stop him from running for campaings, and he asks bail on the final day, giving us very little time (to dispute),” the ED stated.

 It was brought up that the plea might have been submitted during last week’s court hearings by Justice Datta, a member of the bench that granted temporary release. The court questioned, “Why did you not mention this (then)…?”

Additional Solicitor-General SV Raju, representing the central agency, informed the court that “his conduct doesn’t entitle him for any orders today.” The court granted the ED until 2 p.m. on Saturday to answer.

Mr. Kejriwal had previously highlighted the disagreement he had with the jail administration regarding the provision of insulin. His AAP had stated that the “life-saving” medication had been purposefully withheld from him.

Following Arvind Kejriwal’s criticism of Tihar jail and ED personnel for being “petty” and “politicising” his well-being, the dispute also made its way to court. In response, the investigation team stated that the Chief Minister had purposefully eaten high-sugar items, such as mangoes and toffees, against the advice of a recommended diet plan, endangering his health and establishing grounds for medical bail.

“Partially to blame for my health issues is the jail administration’s callous actions. He had contended that “a week more of bail will allow me to take stock of (possible) health complications.”

Image Source: Free Press Journal

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a case in 2022 after receiving a complaint from Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, which is the basis for the ED’s investigation into Kejriwal.

AAP leaders, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, are accused of hatching a criminal conspiracy to find ways to circumvent the Delhi Excise Policy of 2021–22 and benefit certain alcohol vendors. On March 21, two days after the start of the first round of voting, Kejriwal was taken into custody by the ED.

On May 17, the highest court postponed making a decision regarding Kejriwal’s appeal against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) arrest of him.

Kejriwal was granted temporary release by a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta on May 10th, allowing him to campaign for the parliamentary elections until June 1st.