Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal seeks 7-day interim bail extension citing health concerns

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 27 moved the Supreme Court seeking a seven-day extension of his interim bail in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case citing serious health concerns. 

The plea highlighted that chief minister is required to undergo medical tests, including a PET-CT scan, following a weight loss of 7 kg and elevated ketone levels, reported NDTV. 

The Chief Minister's legal counsel said that these tests are crucial for his well-being and appealed to the court to consider his bail extension so that the necessary medical investigations can be completed.

Kejriwal’s interim bail is ending on June 1 and is required to surrender and return to Tihar Jail on June 2.
"Kejriwal lost 7 kg weight after arrest. Kejriwal's ketone level very high and there may be symptoms of some serious disease," AAP said in a statement.

Earlier, the apex court had on May 10 granted him temporary release for a 21-day term while prohibiting him from going to his office or the secretariat in Delhi and signing official documents unless it was absolutely required to have the lieutenant governor's assent.

Kejriwal’s interim bail has drawn a lot of flak from BJP leaders who alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief received "special treatment" from the Supreme Court, to which the justices involved firmly stated that no exceptions were made in his favor.

The AAP chief was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation revolving around alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy (2021-22). 

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were also arrested in the same case. While Singh got bail in April this year, Sisodia, who was arrested on February 26 last year is still behind the bars.

The central probe agency has accused the AAP supremo of being a "conspirator" and soliciting kickbacks from liquor traders in exchange for favors.

The ED believes the now-scrapped policy introduced to bring an overhaul to the national capital's liquor business provided an impossibly high profit margin of nearly 185 per cent for retailers and 12 per cent for wholesalers.

Meanwhile, the AAP has accused Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena’s predecessor, Anil Baijal, of making last-minute changes that adversely affected the policy's revenue expectations.