“Totally Misconceived”: Delhi High Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Kejriwal Release, Imposes Rs 75K Fine

Delhi High Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation that sought the release of jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on “extra ordinary interim bail”. Live Law reported that the Court has also imposed a fine of Rs. 75,000 on petitioner “We the people of India.”

While keeping aside AAP supremo”s petition against his arrest in a money laundering case linked with the Delhi Excise Policy case, the Supreme Court on last Monday issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking their response by April 24. His plea was against Delhi High Court order upholding his arrest.

While passing the order, the bench headed by the acting Chief Justice of Delhi said that the court cannot grant extraordinary interim bail in a pending criminal case initiated against a person holding high office.

The plea was filed by a fourth-year law student under the name ‘We the People of India’. It claimed that Kejriwal’s life is under threat since he is confined in Tihar jail with hardcore criminals who are facing prosecution in cases such as rape, dacoity, murder and bomb blast.

Meanwhile, senior advocate Rahul Meera, appearing for Kejriwal called the PIL ‘completely impermissible’ and ‘misguided’ and said the petitioner was making the court a political platform.

The court asked the petitioner whether he had “good attendance in law school”. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan further added that it seems that the petitioner does not follow principles of law.

While dictating the order, the court said the petitioner’s claim to be the custodian and representative of the people of India is devoid of any basis.

Before that, the Delhi High Court had also dismissed Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest by the ED, noting there was “sufficient material” with the agency for his arrest and remand.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21.