ED moves Delhi High Court challenging Arvind Kejriwal bail order

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday moved the Delhi High Court challenging the trial court order granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy case. .The lawyers for ED will mention the matter before the vacation bench of the High Court shortly for urgent hearing. .The trial court had on Thursday granted bail to Kejriwal. Vacation Judge Niyay Bindu had ordered Kejriwal's release on a bail bond of ₹1 lakh. The ED had asked the court to stay Kejriwal's release for 48 hours, however, the Court refused the request. .Kejriwal was arrested by the 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.ED has alleged that kickbacks received from liquor sellers were used to fund the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) electoral campaign in Goa and Kejriwal being the National Convenor of the party is both personally and vicariously liable for the offence of money laundering.Kejriwal has denied the allegations and has 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.Singh is currently out on bail though Sisodia continue to languish in jail..Supreme Court in May had granted interim bail to Kejriwal to allow him campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. He returned to jail on June 2 after the interim bail period allowed by the top court came to an end.He had also filed an application seeking interim bail for seven days on medical grounds. However, the same was rejected by trial court on June 5.Subsequently, his regular bail plea on merits was allowed by the trial court prompting the ED to approach the High Court.