Arvind Kejriwal (archive photo)
Leaders Online Desk: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was not an accused till March 16 in the Delhi liquor policy scam. However, on a question raised by Kejriwal's lawyers as to how he became an accused in the case, the Supreme Court said that Arvind Kejriwal could not be considered an accused unless he was arrested by the ED. The Supreme Court also clarified that Arvind Kejriwal can apply for interim bail before the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi as the hearing of this case will continue for a long time.
A bench of Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta is hearing the petition filed by Kejriwal challenging the ED's arrest and remand. During this hearing, Arvind Kejriwal was not an accused till March 16 in the Delhi liquor policy scam. However, what suddenly happened after that, the ED considered him an accused, asked senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented Kejriwal.
Kejriwal was summoned by the ED under Section 50 of the PMLA Act, but cannot be considered an accused until strong evidence is collected and charges are framed against him. The last summons was sent to Kejriwal on March 16. He was asked to appear before the ED on March 21. Adv. Singhvi did.
The court then told Singhvi that Kejriwal was arrested on March 21. So unless arrested, Kejriwal cannot be considered an accused.
