Court gives ED last chance to argue against Kejriwal's bail
15 Oct 2025

The Delhi High Court has given the Enforcement Directorate (ED) a final opportunity to present its arguments against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal's bail in a money laundering case linked to the now-defunct Delhi excise policy.

The court had earlier stayed a trial court's bail order, which was passed on June 20, 2024.

The ED approached the high court within hours, calling the trial court's order "perverse," "one-sided," and based on "irrelevant facts."

ED seeks last chance after SC commitments
Court proceedings

The court granted the ED a last chance after Additional Solicitor General SV Raju was unavailable due to Supreme Court commitments.

However, Kejriwal's lawyer Vikram Chaudhari opposed the plea, saying this was the 9th adjournment sought by the ED.

He alleged that these delays were tactics to prolong proceedings.

Nevertheless, the bench granted the ED a last opportunity and has now scheduled the next hearing for November 10.

Kejriwal accuses ED of political vendetta
Allegations

Kejriwal has accused the ED of conducting a "witch-hunt" and said that canceling his bail would be a "grave miscarriage of justice" and that the agency's actions were politically motivated.

In June 2024, the Delhi High Court stayed the trial court's bail order. The court observed that the ED was not given a fair chance to argue against Kejriwal's bail application.

The agency argued that its investigation had received judicial support, indicating that the investigation was thorough and justified.

Supreme Court stay on Kejriwal's arrest
Interim relief

On July 12, 2024, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail after his petition was referred to a larger bench to decide on the "need and necessity of arrest" under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

As the larger bench is yet to be constituted, the ED told the high court that it was in no hurry to seek cancellation of the bail as it has been granted by the top court.