The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday said it may announce its decision regarding interim bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case connected to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy on May 10, according to the news agency PTI.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who led the bench hearing Kejriwal's plea against his arrest in the case, stated, "We will pronounce the interim order (on interim bail) on Friday. The main matter related to the challenge to arrest will also be taken on the same day."
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 from his residence and is currently detained in Tihar Jail under judicial custody.
Earlier Tuesday, the Supreme Court postponed the verdict on Kejriwal's interim bail plea and suggested that the order might be announced the following week. The apex court expressed concerns that granting interim bail to Kejriwal, currently incarcerated, could lead to potential disruptions in official duties.
"We will give you a date for the day after tomorrow. If it's not possible, we will keep it sometime next week. Next week is going to be very difficult," stated Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta during the proceedings.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, clarified during the hearing that if released on interim bail, the chief minister would not be involved in the excise case but would continue to serve as the sitting chief minister.
Responding to Singhvi's remarks, the bench emphasised its reluctance to allow Kejriwal to resume official duties if granted interim bail to avoid any potential interference in government operations.
"We do not want interference at all in the work of the government. It's your wish that you want to continue as chief minister. Today, it is not a question of legality but propriety. We are considering the interim bail just because of elections, else we wouldn't have considered it at all," the bench asserted.
The impending decision by the Supreme Court regarding Kejriwal's interim bail has garnered significant attention, with implications for both the ongoing legal proceedings and the political landscape in Delhi.
