Hearing on ED’s Plea Challenging Kejriwal’s Bail Adjourned to January 17

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has adjourned the hearing of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea challenging the trial court’s order granting bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy scam case. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri’s bench has now scheduled the hearing for January 17, 2025.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, ED informed the court that Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, who was supposed to present arguments, was unavailable. Opposing this, Kejriwal’s lawyer Vikram Chaudhary argued that the stay on the trial court’s bail order should be lifted.

In response, ED stated that Kejriwal remains on bail, as the Supreme Court has already granted him interim relief in the matter. Earlier, on August 7, the High Court had questioned ED’s intent, asking, “What exactly do you plan to do? Are you seeking to re-arrest Kejriwal?”

In his reply to ED’s plea, Kejriwal argued that revoking the trial court’s bail order would amount to a miscarriage of justice. His counsel also accused ED of coercing witnesses into providing statements.

Notably, the CBI had arrested Kejriwal on June 26 in connection with the case, a move he has challenged in the High Court. While the Supreme Court has granted him interim bail in the ED case, Kejriwal has already secured regular bail in the CBI case.