SC Terminates ED Over 'Delay' in Arvind Kejriwal Investigation, Asks Why Can't the ACC Be Granted

The Supreme Court grilled the ED over the delay in its probe against Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor policy case and explored granting him interim bail, despite the agency's objections.

The Supreme Court reprimanded the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over the "delay" in their probe into the Delhi liquor policy corruption involving Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday. The court asked the agency why such questions were not presented to witnesses and defendants during the investigation.

A 2-member bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta pointed out that the ED failed to "unearth something" in this case after nearly 2 years. The court asked the agency to submit case files about the pre-arrest of former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia, who is currently in jail since Feb 2023, to the same case. 

This harsh questioning happened when the Supreme Court was hearing the petition filed by Arvind Kejriwal against his arrest by the ED on March 21. The Chief Minister of Delhi has been detained at Tihar Jail ever since. 

At the hearing, the court asked the reason why the interim bail could not be granted to Kejriwal until the end of the Lok Sabha elections, as this situation was extraordinary.  However, the ED adamantly opposed the idea saying that the bail would set a wrong precedent. 

"Against members of parliament, the total number of cases can be more than 5,000 around the country.  Will all of them be released on bail?" the court was asked by the agency. It held that a person engaged in politics is no different from a person who is not, in the matter of being prosecuted for a crime. 

ED maintained that Kejriwal was not the prime suspect initially, but his role started becoming clear as investigations progressed. It stated that the AAP leader had stayed at a "7-star hotel" in Goa during the 2022 assembly polls and some of the bills were paid by the Delhi government. 

Also Read: Delhi High Court Turned Down The Request To Cancel The Arrest Of Arvind Kejriwal On Tuesday; The Supreme Court’s Verdict Is Still Awaited

Kejriwal had approached the Delhi High Court which had upheld his arrest last month.  This was not a good news for Kejriwal.  His only hope now is the Supreme Court. 

The Apex Court maintained that they would pass an order on the bail application of AAP CM after the Lok Sabha elections are over. The case will be presented on the next hearing date.