Delhi court seeks ED response to Arvind Kejriwal bail plea in Excise Policy case

A Delhi court on Thursday sought the response of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a bail plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case against him in relation to the Delhi excise policy. .Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue court heard the matter at 2 pm today when ED said that it would like to file replies to Kejriwal's plea.The Court allowed the same and posted the case for further hearing on June 1 at 2 pm. .Kejriwal has filed two separate pleas. One plea seeks regular bail in the money laundering case initiated by the Enforcement Directorate in relation to the Delhi excise policy scam.A second plea seeks interim bail for seven days on medical grounds.The Court today issued notice on both plea. .Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 on allegations that he was part of a conspiracy to intentionally leave loopholes in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22, to benefit certain liquor sellers.Among other allegations, it is claimed that kickbacks received from liquor sellers were used to fund the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) electoral campaign in Goa.Kejriwal has counter-accused the ED of running an extortion racket.Other AAP leaders arrested in the same case include former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh (out on bail)..Kejriwal remained in jail till May 10, when the Supreme Court allowed his release on interim bail to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.The interim order was passed on a plea filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest and remand by the ED. The top court is yet to pronounce a final verdict on the main plea.A plea seeking the extension of interim bail by a week on medical grounds was later moved by Kejriwal before the Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court registrar recently declined to list the matter.Recently, the ED also made the AAP an accused in the money laundering case registered in the matter.