ED challenges Arvind Kejriwal bail order: LIVE UPDATES from Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court is slated to hear an appeal filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging a trial court's decision to grant regular bail to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal was arrested in March this year in the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy of 2021-22.

The ED has accused Kejriwal of being a key conspirator in a plot to intentionally leave behind loopholes in the excise policy, allegedly to benefit certain liquor sellers.

The ED has claimed that the kickbacks received from the liquor sellers were used to fund the AAP's elections in Goa.

Kejriwal has countered that the ED has no money trail or proof to back up its allegations and that it is running an extortion racket.

After his arrest in March, Kejriwal was briefly released on interim bail for 21 days on a May 10 order from the Supreme Court so that he could campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. He returned to Tihar jail on June 2, after his interim bail ended on June 1.

His plea for interim bail on medical grounds was rejected by the trial court on June 5.

However, on June 20 (Thursday), the trial court allowed his release on regular bail. The order was passed yesterday evening, hours after vacation Judge Niyay Bindu reserved orders in the matter.

Judge Bindu also refused the ED's request to stay the bail order, prompting the ED to urgently mention the matter before the Delhi High Court. The High Court agreed to hear the matter today, adding that the trial court's bail order would not be given effect until the High Court hears the matter.

Track this page for live updates from the hearing.