NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will deliver its order on granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam on May 10.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, on Wednesday, said this in the open court to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju, while hearing a different case. The same bench, led by Justice Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta had heard the arguments from the ED and Kejriwal.
"We may pass an order on Friday," Justice Khanna said.
The AAP leader had moved the apex court challenging the Delhi HC's rejection of his plea challenging his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who also appeared for the probe agency, had staunchly opposed showing any leniency to Kejriwal on account of the Lok Sabha polls and said granting interim bail to the AAP national convenor would amount to creating a separate class for politicians.
Justifying Kejriwal's arrest in the case, the ED had told the Supreme Court that he was the mastermind and main conspirator in the case. We have all the evidence against him.
He said that when the investigation began the agency did not focus on Kejriwal however, as the probe progressed, he was named with his role becoming clearer.
The apex court observed, "He is an elected CM of Delhi. There are elections. These are extraordinary circumstances. He's not a habitual offender. These factors may be considered for granting some kind of interim bail."
The apex court while hinting to grant him bail observed, "Elections are around the corner and we are thinking on that perspective," Justice Khanna said.
A day after his plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court on April 9, Kejriwal had on April 10 moved the Supreme Court against the dismissal of plea of his arrest and remand in Delhi liquor scam.
On March 22, a trial court remanded him to six days of ED custody, initially.
(With inputs from PTI)
