Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has found himself in legal trouble over the alleged liquor policy scam. In a crucial development, Kejriwal moved the Delhi Court on Thursday, seeking regular bail in the money laundering case related to the purported liquor policy scam. Additionally, he filed a plea seeking interim bail for seven days on medical grounds.

The special judge, Kaveri Baweja, presiding over the Rouse Avenue Courts, took cognizance of Kejriwal's pleas and issued a notice, seeking the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response to the requests for regular bail and interim bail.

Enforcement Directorate's Stance Appearing on behalf of the ED, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju sought time to file a response to Kejriwal's pleas. Raju submitted that the central probe agency intends to bring several suppressions on record, implying that there might be crucial information that needs to be presented before the court.

Raju's arguments against granting Kejriwal interim bail on medical grounds were noteworthy. He pointed out that Kejriwal is currently not in custody, as he was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, which expires on June 1. Raju claimed that Kejriwal's health did not hinder him from campaigning in Punjab, questioning the necessity for interim bail on medical grounds.

Furthermore, Raju argued that Kejriwal's conduct does not entitle him to any favorable orders today, as he moved the bail plea on the last date, leaving little time for the ED to respond adequately.

Kejriwal's Legal Representation Senior Advocate N. Hariharan appeared on behalf of Arvind Kejriwal in the court proceedings. The matter has been scheduled for a hearing on June 1 at 2 PM, allowing both parties to present their arguments and evidence.

Background of the Case Arvind Kejriwal's legal troubles stem from his arrest by the ED on March 21 in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. The Supreme Court had granted him interim bail, which is set to expire on June 1. Kejriwal will have to surrender on June 2 if he fails to secure regular bail or an extension of his interim bail.

Notably, the Supreme Court Registry had previously refused to list Kejriwal's plea seeking a seven-day extension of his interim bail, prompting him to approach the trial court for regular bail.

Supplementary Chargesheet and Allegations In a significant development, the ED recently filed a supplementary chargesheet in the money laundering case, naming Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as accused. The court has reserved its order on taking cognizance of the seventh supplementary chargesheet filed by the probe agency.

On April 10, the Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest, observing that the ED had placed enough material, statements of approvers, and statements from AAP's own candidate stating that Kejriwal was given money for the Goa elections.

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are also accused in the case. While Sisodia continues to remain in jail, Singh was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court pursuant to a concession given by the ED.

The ED has alleged that Arvind Kejriwal is the "kingpin" of the Delhi excise scam and is directly involved in the use of proceeds of crime accounting for over Rs. 100 crores.

Alleged Conspiracy and Profit Margins According to the ED's case, the excise policy was implemented as part of a conspiracy to give a wholesale business profit of 12 percent to certain private companies, although such a stipulation was not mentioned in the minutes of meetings of the Group of Ministers (GoM).

The central agency has claimed that there was a conspiracy coordinated by Vijay Nair and other individuals, along with the South Group, to give extraordinary profit margins to wholesalers. Nair was allegedly acting on behalf of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, as per the agency's claims.

Implications and Ongoing Legal Proceedings The liquor policy case has significant implications for Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP, as the allegations of money laundering and corruption strike at the heart of their claims of providing a clean and transparent governance model.

As the legal proceedings continue, all eyes will be on the Delhi Court's decision on Kejriwal's bail pleas and the ED's response to the same. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for Kejriwal's political career and the AAP's future prospects.

Conclusion The alleged liquor policy scam has embroiled Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP in a complex legal battle. As the Delhi Court seeks the ED's response on Kejriwal's bail pleas, the case has garnered national attention. The hearing scheduled for June 1 will be a crucial juncture, where both parties will present their arguments and evidence. The court's decision will not only determine Kejriwal's immediate legal fate but could also have broader ramifications for the AAP's political standing and the perception of governance in the national capital.