SC Denies Arvind Kejriwal's Plea for Extension of Interim Bail in Delhi Liquor Policy Corruption Case

SC Denies Arvind Kejriwal's Plea for Extension of Interim Bail in Delhi Liquor Policy Corruption Case

The Supreme Court has declined Arvind Kejriwal's request for a 7-day extension of his interim bail in a corruption case related to the Delhi liquor policy.

Last month, the Court granted Mr. Kejriwal interim bail to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, instructing him to surrender on June 2, the day after the final round of voting.

The Supreme Court registrar, in rejecting the plea, stated that Mr. Kejriwal was allowed to seek regular bail from the trial court, rendering this petition "not maintainable."

Mr. Kejriwal had requested the extension on medical grounds and sought an urgent hearing today.

"In view of health complications and increased risk signs, a medical examination is necessary to protect him from possible long-term harm to during his prison term," senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is representing Mr Kejriwal, said in the petition. He had also stressed that the AAP leader will remain "visible and available in public" while out on bail.

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

The probe agency alleges that the Delhi Chief Minister was instrumental in drafting the now-scrapped liquor policy and soliciting bribes, or kickbacks, in exchange for liquor licenses. According to the agency, the AAP received kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crore, which were subsequently used to finance its election campaigns in Goa and Punjab. 

The AAP and Mr Kejriwal have refused all charges and called the arrest and case "political vendetta", coming as it did, weeks before the election. The arrest also triggered a political spat between the ruling BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc, which is led by the Congress and of which the AAP is a member.

 

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