Delhi court dismisses Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail plea, extends judicial custody till June 19

A Delhi court rejected an interim bail plea filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday. The AAP supremo — currently in judicial custody — had sought seven days bail for medical reasons. The court also extended custody of the senior politician till June 19 after he appeared virtually before the court.

Kejriwal had surrendered at Tihar jail on Sunday as the tenure of his interim bail granted by the Supreme Court expired. He had previously received 21 days of interim bail to permit campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. He was directed to surrender on June 2 — a day after the last phase of the seven-phase poll ended. 

The court is now scheduled to take up his application seeking default bail on June 7. In the meantime, it has directed the concerned authorities to conduct required medical tests.

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The Enforcement Directorate had opposed Kejriwal's bail application on Saturday and cited his high-octane election campaign. It contended that the AAP chief had been active in the political arena throughout the Lok Sabha elections but "now when he has to surrender, he suddenly claims to be ill".

“A person who is saying that his condition is serious....look at his conduct. From the day he was released, he is campaigning everywhere and not like one minute or two minutes, it's for hours. At that time, nothing happens to his health. But when he has to surrender, he is suddenly ill,” the ED counsel said.

He claimed that the Delhi Chief Minister was “playing a game with the system” and attempting to take it for a “joyride”. The ED said that it would provide all required facilities in jail for required tests. 

"Stress due to the campaign increased his sugar level. Today, when I (Kejriwal) go back to jail without tests being done, I am subjecting myself to risks. This is only to ensure the fact that the treatment given to me is in conformity to the ailment I have. I am not asking for interim bail for two months or three months. What is the prejudice that it will cause to them?" Kejriwal had countered via his lawyer. 

(With inputs from agencies)