Arvind Kejriwal News Highlights: AAP to challenge HC order in Supreme Court
: The Delhi High Court has allowed the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea challenging the trial court’s order granting bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case. The court said the vacation judge did not properly consider the crucial documents produced by the ED.
What did the Delhi High Court say while staying Arvind Kejriwal’s bail?
* The Delhi High Court criticised the trial court’s observation that it was impossible for the vacation judge to review the voluminous records produced by the ED, calling the view “unreasonable” and “unnecessary”.
* The court said the trial court “did not exercise its discretion” while granting bail.
* Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, a member of the vacation bench, said, “The application is allowed, and the operation of the impugned order is stayed.”
* The high court said the trial court should have given the ED a reasonable opportunity to present its case and recorded its satisfaction under”There are reasonable grounds to believe that Kejriwal is not guilty of such offence,” according to Section 45 of the PMLA.
* Additionally, the court pointed out that the trial court failed to consider the aspect of the AAP chief being liable for the offences committed by the party.
What is the excise policy case?
The Delhi government had formulated an excise policy in 2021-22 aimed at reviving the city’s sluggish liquor business by replacing the sales-volume-based system with licence fees for traders and promising to create luxurious shops free of the infamous metal grills, ultimately giving customers a better shopping experience.However, the policy was abandoned after VK Saxena, the lieutenant governor of Delhi, requested a CBI investigation into it, citing irregularities.
According to the ED, the Kejriwal-led AAP had received a bribe of Rs 100 crore to finalise the excise policy. It was also alleged that a major part of this money was used by the party in the Goa election campaign.
