SC Denies Kejriwal's Urgent Bail Extension

Delhi CM's Plea Rejected; Jail Surrender Set for June 2?

The Supreme Court declined to urgently schedule Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's request for a 7-day extension of his interim bail. Consequently, the AAP leader will return to Tihar Jail on June 2.

The Supreme Court registry declined to accept the application, stating that since the Chief Minister was granted liberty to apply for regular bail in the trial court, the plea is not admissible.

Kejriwal had been granted interim bail by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta on May 10 and was instructed to surrender to Tihar jail by June 2. The bench had reserved its verdict on May 17 regarding his challenge to the legality of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a PMLA case related to a liquor scam.

The Supreme Court, declining to accept the application, highlighted that since the verdict is already reserved on the challenge to the arrest, Kejriwal's plea for an extension of interim bail is unrelated to the main petition.

The AAP, in its petition, stated that Kejriwal had lost 7 kg since his arrest and his body's ketone levels are significantly elevated, which could indicate symptoms of a serious illness.

"Max Hospital doctors have evaluated him, and he requires a PET-CT scan and numerous other tests. He has requested 7 days to complete these investigations," the AAP spokesperson conveyed.

On May 10, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta granted Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.

According to the order, Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case, is required to surrender on June 2.