Delhi Court Extends Arvind Kejriwal‘s Custody as Supreme Court Deliberates on Interim Bail
In a major twist to the ongoing legal battle involving Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a Delhi Court has extended his judicial custody till May 20. The move came after term of his previous custody expired. He is accused in a money laundering case related to alleged liquor policy scam. This raises serious questions about governance and legal compliance.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated this case against Kejriwal which points towards deep rooted corruption within government’s handling of excise policy in New Delhi. According to ED, Kejriwal is “kingpin” of this scheme who directly orchestrated and benefitted from illegal financial transaction exceeding Rs 100 crore.
This extension of his detention happened on the day when Supreme Court started hearing his plea for interim bail. On April 10, Delhi High Court rejected Kejriwal’s challenge against initial arrest by ED stating that it had provided substantial evidence including statements from approvers and AAP candidate showing that he received funds meant for Goa elections.
The apex court’s decision on whether or not to grant him any relief at all during pendency before them assumes political significance as well since there is huge public interest around this matter given its high profile nature too apart from being an election year for assembly polls in several states including Uttar Pradesh which will hold simultaneous elections with Punjab next year followed by Uttarakhand then Manipur etcetera . It also brings out more so wider problem about relationship between governmental officials elected through ballot box like CMs AS WELL AS police officers wearing uniforms who are supposed TO enforce laws such as dealing with corruption within public offices including those occupied by ministers etcetera.
Other leaders of Aam Aadmi Party such as Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh too are embroiled into their own separate troubles vis-à-vis same matter but different aspects thereof; Sisodia still continues to remain behind bars while Singh was granted bail by SC after ED made certain concessions during hearing on his bail application before them which means that they have accepted some of allegations made against him but not all wherefore he should be released forthwith subject however inter alia TO such conditions as may be imposed upon him by the competent court concerned having jurisdiction over said offence(s) alleged COMMITTED BY aforesaid accused person(s).
According to Enforcement Directorate, private companies were given wholesale business profit of 12% under excise policy manipulation done beyond official minutes of Group Of Ministers’ meetings. Vijay Nair along with South Group reportedly conspired to ensure abnormally high profit margins for these firms by making this plan work through illegal means. It is being alleged that Nair acted under Kejriwal’s and Sisodia’s instructions.
While legal processes keep taking place one after another creating political ripples across Delhi wherefrom springs various implications for governance in particular also coming electoral processes so everything needs to be watched very closely because if outcome goes one way then public trust could get shaken like never before vis-à-vis AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal himself but if verdict sets precedent about treatment meted out against high ranking politicians in India then people will lose faith on fairness within our system itself hence we must hope that judiciary does not falter while balancing scales between justice POLITICALLY ACCOUNTABILITY AT LEGAL INTEGRITY level
