Supreme Court Denies Arvind Kejriwal's Request for Bail Extension in Delhi Liquor Policy Case

The Supreme Court has declined to hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea seeking a seven-day extension of his interim bail in a corruption case linked to the Delhi liquor policy. Last month, the Court granted Mr. Kejriwal interim bail to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, requiring him to surrender on June 2, a day after the final phase of polling.

The Supreme Court registrar rejected the plea, stating that Mr. Kejriwal was permitted to apply for regular bail in the trial court, rendering this petition "not maintainable."

Mr. Kejriwal sought the extension on medical grounds and requested an urgent hearing. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Mr. Kejriwal, argued that a medical examination was necessary due to health complications, stressing that Mr. Kejriwal would remain "visible and available in public" while on bail. Singhvi assured that there was no risk of Mr. Kejriwal fleeing the legal process and that the conditions set by the Supreme Court for interim bail had been followed.

The probe agency alleges that the Delhi Chief Minister played a significant role in drafting the now-scrapped policy and soliciting bribes in exchange for liquor licenses. The agency claims that the AAP received kickbacks of ₹100 crores, which were then used to fund its election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.

Mr. Kejriwal and the AAP have denied all charges, labeling the arrest and case as a "political vendetta," mainly since it occurred weeks before the election. The arrest has also sparked a political clash between the ruling BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Congress, of which the AAP is a member.