Supreme Court registry declines Kejriwal’s bail extension request

The Supreme Court registry has declined Arvind Kejriwal’s request for a seven-day extension of his interim bail in a corruption case related to the Delhi liquor policy. Last month, the Court had granted interim bail to the Delhi Chief Minister to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, with the directive that he surrenders on June 2, a day after the final phase of polling. The bench of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice KV Viswanathan said the Chief Justice of India (CJI) would take a call on the listing since the application for extension of bail has been moved in a case in which the judgment has already been reserved.

The Supreme Court registrar rejected the plea, noting that Kejriwal was free to seek regular bail from the trial court, making his petition to the Supreme Court “not maintainable.”

Kejriwal’s request for an extension was based on medical grounds, citing health complications and increased risk signs. His lawyer, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that a medical examination was necessary to protect Kejriwal from possible long-term harm during his prison term. Singhvi assured that the AAP leader would remain “visible and available in public” while out on bail and emphasized that Kejriwal posed no flight risk, having adhered to the conditions set by the Supreme Court for his interim bail.

On May 10, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal a 21-day interim bail to allow him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. The Court had directed him to surrender on June 2, following the conclusion of the election’s final phase.

The investigation agency alleges that Kejriwal played a significant role in drafting the now-scrapped liquor policy and solicited bribes in exchange for liquor licenses. They claim that the AAP received Rs 100 crore in kickbacks, which were allegedly used to fund election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.

Both AAP and Kejriwal have denied all charges, labelling the arrest and case as “political vendetta” orchestrated just weeks before the election. The arrest has fuelled a political dispute between the ruling BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Congress and including the AAP.