The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Wednesday rejected an interim bail plea from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who sought seven days of bail for medical reasons. Kejriwal is currently held in Tihar Jail in connection with a money-laundering case tied to the now-defunct Delhi excise policy.
During a virtual court appearance, the court extended Kejriwal's judicial custody until June 19 and asked to conduct medical check- up for Kejriwal . The court is set to review Kejriwal’s application for default bail on June 7.
Kejriwal, arrested in March, had been granted temporary, three-week bail to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, which concluded on June 1. On Sunday, the Rouse Avenue Court sent him to judicial custody until June 5.
Previously, on April 9, the Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal’s plea for release from jail, rejecting his argument of political vendetta amidst the looming Lok Sabha elections. On June 4, the Supreme Court refused to entertain AAP leader Manish Sisodia's bail pleas in cases lodged by the CBI and the ED related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. However, the apex court allowed Sisodia to revive his bail petitions after the ED and CBI file their final prosecution complaint and charge sheet, respectively, in the cases involving alleged corruption and money laundering.
The ongoing legal battles of both Kejriwal and Sisodia underscore the significant judicial scrutiny faced by AAP leaders amidst the broader political context of the Lok Sabha elections. The outcomes of these cases could have substantial implications for their political careers and the party's future.
