New Delhi: In a setback for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear an urgent plea for the extension of his interim bail by seven days on medical grounds in the Delhi excise policy case. The vacation bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and KV Viswanathan stated that the Chief Justice of India would decide on the listing of Kejriwal’s application.
The bench noted it was appropriate for the Chief Justice of India to handle the listing of the application for the extension of bail since the judgment in the case had already been reserved. On May 17, the apex court reserved its verdict on Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The top court had granted Kejriwal interim bail on May 10, allowing him to campaign for the Lok Sabha election until June 1, with instructions to surrender on June 2.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, mentioned the application for urgent hearing. However, the bench responded, “This is a heard and reserved matter. We cannot do anything. Place before CJI for appropriate orders.”
Filing a fresh application, Singhvi explained that Kejriwal sought “only 7 days extension. This is just a medical extension and not an abuse of liberty.” The bench then asked Singhvi why the application was not mentioned before Justice Dipankar Datta, who was heading a vacation bench last week. Singhvi replied that the prescription was given only two days ago, which is why the application could not be moved earlier.
Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta had heard the main case and granted interim bail to Kejriwal. In the application seeking a one-week extension, Kejriwal stated that he needs to undergo diagnostic tests, including a PET-CT scan. The application mentioned that recent medical tests revealed elevated blood glucose and ketone levels, suggesting potential kidney-related complications and damage.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe related to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
