Delhi Liquor Policy Case: SC said- Elections come in 5 years, ED said, sky will not fall if Kejriwal does not campaign
Kejriwal has challenged the arrest under excise policy in the Supreme Court. During the hearing, ED said, there are allegations against Kejriwal of destroying electronic evidence and sending Rs 100 crore through hawala.
Arvind Kejriwal (file photo) (Image Source :PTI)
The petition of jailed CM Arvind Kejriwal on charges of alleged scam in Delhi's excise policy was heard in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. During this, ED opposed Kejriwal's petition claiming to have evidence against him. Kejriwal has challenged the arrest of ED in his petition.
What happened during the hearing in the Supreme Court?
- ED's lawyer told in the Supreme Court that CM Kejriwal is accused of destroying electronic evidence and sending Rs 100 crore through hawala. On this the Supreme Court said, Rs 100 crore are the proceeds of crime. But the scam is being said to be worth Rs 1100 crore. How did this increase happen?
On this, ED's lawyer said, wholesale traders were made huge profits by wrong means. Initially Kejriwal was not at the center of our investigation. His name came out during the investigation. It is wrong to say that we specifically questioned the witnesses to target Kejriwal. The statement under section 164 given by the witnesses before the magistrate can be seen.
On this the Supreme Court said, you must have maintained a case diary recording all the aspects. We would like to see that.
- Supreme Court said, we have limited questions. That is whether PMLA Section 19 was properly followed in the arrest. But it does not seem right that it took two years to arrest Kejriwal after the first arrest.
Kejriwal demanded Rs 100 crore - ED
- ED said, we have evidence that Kejriwal himself demanded Rs 100 crore. There is also evidence that the bill for the 7 star hotel Hyatt where he stayed during the Goa elections was paid by Chariot Enterprises.
- Supreme Court said, we also want to decide the scope of Section 19 (section of arrest). This is why this hearing is happening. Justice Khanna told ED lawyer SV Raju, you should finish the debate on this issue by 12.30. We will hear the interim bail after that. This is election time. The Chief Minister of Delhi is in jail.
Mention of crops and farmers in Supreme Court
On this the Solicitor General said, this would be a wrong example. If a farmer is in jail during the harvest season, should he not get bail? Why should a leader get separate concessions?
- On this the Supreme Court said, general elections come in 5 years. The harvest season comes every 6 months.
On this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, Kejriwal was called in October, if he had come, would it have resulted in the situation that the time of elections has come, hence he would have to be released. The hearing will last a long time, this also cannot be the basis for interim bail.
- Supreme Court said, ED should finish the debate on the aspect of arrest by 1 pm. There will be a debate on interim bail from 2 pm.
There should be no wrong influence in the society – ED
Solicitor General said, this message should not be sent that in the eyes of law, the leader is different from the common citizen. On this the Supreme Court said, we will take care of this aspect also.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, election campaigning is a luxury, working for the crop is the livelihood of the farmer. Wrong message will be sent to the society.
- Supreme Court said, we will listen to everything. We have also noted that he avoided appearing before the summons for 6 months.
- Tushar Mehta said, the court should see the facts. Whether to promote them or not cannot be a matter of concern. If this is not propagated then the sky will not fall.
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DELHI LIQUOR POLICY CASE