Delhi Liquor Policy case: SC issues notice to ED on Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against arrest and posts matter for hearing on April 29, 2024

Today, the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing a petition filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning the Delhi liquor policy case. The bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta issued notice to the ED seeking its response regarding the same and posted the matter for hearing on April 29, 2024. The order reads, “Issue notice returnable in the week commencing 29th April 2024. Notice is accepted on behalf of the Respondent who are present in court. Reply will be filed b on or before April 24 and rejoinder if any by April 27, 2024.” During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhi, representing Arvind Kejriwal, sought an earlier date for hearing the batter but the top court posted the matter on April 29. Singhvi submitted, “I am asking for an extremely short date, possibly this Friday, or a reason. This is a very unusual matter. Not because he is a Chief Minister. There are two documents, FIR and ECIR and eight chargesheets, between the CBI and the ED. This petitioner is not named. Point number 2- the story starts from September 2022. He is arrested on March 21, 2024. Between that time, there are 16 statements, 10 by one person, Sarath Reddy and six by others. All 15 statements do not state the above. One statement becomes positive…the object of arrest, post the model code of conduct, is to disable me from campaigning.” After hearing the matter, the SC issued a notice to the ED and posted the matter for hearing on April 29, 2024 (Monday).