Kejriwal to return to jail as Delhi court reserves order on interim bail

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has to return to Tihar jail here on Sunday as he failed to get any immediate relief from a court on Saturday on his plea for interim bail.

As per the Supreme Court's order of May 10, Kejriwal was ordered to be released on interim bail for election campaign till June 1 and he was directed to surrender and go back to Tihar jail on June 2.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who heard the arguments on his plea, reserved the matter for pronouncing the order on June 5. The court fixed his plea for regular bail for consideration on June 7.

Kejriwal sought interim bail as well as regular bail in the liquor policy scam case.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate opposed the plea by Kejriwal.

He said the applicant claimed he was going to surrender. He also raised preliminary objections, claiming false statements have been made on health conditions. Mehta said the applicant claimed he has lost seven kilogram weight but in fact, he has gained one kilogram weight during his stay in jail.

The counsel also said he was technically asking for extension of the Supreme Court's interim bail.

"Can the entire system be taken for a joyride like this? This is being used for oblique reasons," the Solicitor General asked.

He pointed out that there has not been any medical examination of the applicant after May 25.

Senior advocate N Hariharan, appearing for the applicant, submitted his medical situation forced him to seek interim bail for seven days. A person who has faced a medical situation can't be left remediless. He said the Supreme Court has also allowed him to approach the trial court for the bail. The counsel denied the charge of suppressing material facts.

Kejriwal moved the Rouse Avenue Court here, after his plea for extension of interim bail was declined for hearing by the apex court registry.

He sought a direction for an extension of his interim bail by another seven days, citing that he has to undergo PET-CT scan and other tests.

Kejriwal, in his plea, claimed that since his arrest he had lost 7 kgs. His Ketone level had gone very high. This could be a symptom of a serious disease. "The doctors of Max hospital is treating him at present," he said in his plea.

The Enforcement Directorate had called Kejriwal as the kingpin and the main conspirator of the scam. It has also filed a charge sheet earlier this month naming Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party as accused in the case.