New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday approached the Delhi High Court and challenged the trial court order granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the alleged excise policy scam case.
ED’s counsels including additional solicitor general SV Raju, special public prosecutor Zoeb Hossain and other members of the probe agency’s legal team mentioned the matter before the High Court’s vacation bench for an urgent hearing, News18 reported. “We were not given ample opportunity to argue the matter before the vacation judge…I was not even given time to file a written submission,” said the additional solicitor general.
“My prayer for a stay on the bail order wasn’t even considered. I am demanding that the order be stayed and the matter be heard as soon as possible. we were denied the full opportunity to argue the case. i am making allegations with full seriousness,” he added.
A trial court in Delhi on Thursday granted bail to Kejriwal in a money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise scam. Special Judge Niyay Bindu also declined the ED’s prayer to keep in abeyance the bail order for 48 hours to allow the central agency to avail legal remedies like moving a superior court in appeal.
The judge ordered Kejriwal’s release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh but imposed certain conditions before granting him the relief, including that he would not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses. The judge also directed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation. The ED had arrested Kejriwal on March 21, shortly after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from arrest on his petition challenging summonses issued to him.
The trial court had on June 5 denied him interim bail which he had sought citing several ailments.
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