Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to hear the bail plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today in a corruption case filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to the now-defunct excise policy. The CBI, in its submission to the court, argued against Kejriwal’s claim for parity with his co-accused and stated that his medical treatment can be adequately managed while in custody.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan had previously considered Kejriwal’s bail plea on August 14 but denied interim bail at that time. The hearing was postponed to September 5 to allow the CBI to submit its counter affidavit.
Kejriwal was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, 2024, in connection with a money laundering case and subsequently by the CBI on June 26 for corruption charges. He has already been granted bail by the Supreme Court in the ED case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam.
CBI Opposes Parity with Co-Accused
In its latest response filed in the Supreme Court last week, the CBI contended that Kejriwal should not be granted bail on the basis of parity with his co-accused, given his distinct role in the case. The agency pointed out that while former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K Kavitha, and former AAP communication in-charge Vijay Nair have been granted bail by the Supreme Court, Kejriwal’s situation is different.
The CBI’s submission, which has been reviewed by India Today, emphasized that the bail granted to Kejriwal’s co-accused does not influence the legal basis of his own arrest. “The bail granted to co-accused [of Kejriwal] has no bearing on his plea challenging the legality of his arrest,” the agency stated. The Supreme Court had previously cited its August 9 bail order for Sisodia while granting bail to K Kavitha.
Medical Grounds for Bail Challenged
Kejriwal has sought bail on health grounds, but the CBI argued that necessary medical treatment can be provided to him within the confines of the Tihar Jail Hospital or any of its referral hospitals, as per the existing Jail Rules and Manuals. The agency asserted that no valid case has been made by Kejriwal to warrant release on medical bail, which is typically granted only if adequate treatment cannot be provided within the jail premises.
The Supreme Court’s decision on Kejriwal’s bail plea is awaited with keen interest, as it will set a precedent for how similar cases might be handled in the future, especially concerning high-profile political figures.
