No court relief to Arvind Kejriwal on plea against arrest, next hearing on April 3

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused interim relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested last week in connection with liquor policy case.

The court heard a petition by Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case linked to the liquor policy case.

The lawyers appearing for Arvind Kejriwal sought the urgent release of the Delhi Chief Minister, who is in Enforcement Directorate custody till March 28, and had sought an immediate hearing on the matter.

However, the Enforcement Directorate opposed the immediate hearing and sought time to file a reply to both the application and the writ petition by Arvind Kejriwal. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, said that they were served with a copy of the petition on Tuesday and needed time to file a response.

The High Court observed, “While hearing and deciding a case, the court is duty-bound to hear both sides fairly, keeping in mind the principles of natural justice.”

The Delhi High Court said that the response by the Enforcement Directorate is “essential and crucial” to decide the case and asked the Enforcement Directorate to file a reply by April 2.

The next hearing on the matter will be on April 3.