Arvind Kejriwal’s bail: Should we pre-judge? Supreme Court wonders as Kejriwal asks ‘why am I not free’
The Hindu
Supreme Court reluctant to intervene in Arvind Kejriwal bail plea case, awaiting Delhi High Court judgment.
The Supreme Court on June 24 voices reluctance to intervene immediately to lift the Delhi High Court’s order staying bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who asked why his freedom has been curtailed despite a trial court upholding his personal liberty in the excise policy case.
“If we pass an order, it would be like prejudging the issue,” Justice Manoj Misra, heading a Vacation Bench, observed.
Hearing highlights | No immediate relief for Arvind Kejriwal, Supreme Court to hear plea against HC’s stay on bail on June 26
“But why cannot I be free? The trial court judgment of June 20 is in my favour… This is a question of personal liberty. I am the Chief Minister of Delhi. I am not a flight risk nor am I going to abscond… How can bail, once granted, be stayed?” Mr. Kejriwal’s lawyer, senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, reacted.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had appealed the June 20 bail order the very next day and got an interim stay immediately, said the High Court is scheduled to pronounce its judgment on Mr. Kejriwal’s bail shortly, probably on June 25 itself. The High Court had reserved the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, for the ED, urged the Supreme Court to wait for the High Court verdict on the appeal.
Agreeing, Justice Misra said it would be more appropriate to wait for the High Court to pronounce its judgment. It posted the case on June 26, though it had initially suggested having it next week.
“What will we pass an order on now? How do we know what the High Court has on its mind?” Justice Misra asked.