"Campaigning In Election Not Fundamental Right": ED Opposes Arvind Kejriwal's Interim Bail Plea In Liquor Policy Scam

In a fresh affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday (9 May) opposed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea for an interim bail.

The Supreme Court is set to continue hearing on the interim bail plea on Friday. It will also take up the main matter where Kejriwal challenges his arrest by the ED on 21 March.

The ED argued that "the right to campaign for an election is neither a fundamental right nor a constitutional right and not even a legal right," while opposing Kejriwal's plea in the Delhi liquor policy scam.

"No political leader has been granted interim bail for campaigning even though he is not the contesting candidate," the ED said adding that even a contesting candidate is not granted interim bail.

It was reported earlier that the ED is also planning to name Kejriwal as accused and will call him a 'kingpin' of the now-scrapped liquor policy and a key conspirator.

The ED claims to have established the money trail on the basis of statements of approvers and an AAP candidate of Goa who said that he was given money.

In the Tuesday hearing in the Supreme Court, the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta considered "cascading effects" of releasing Kejriwal on bail.

Justice Khanna made it clear that Kejriwal will not be allowed to perform official duties while out on bail as the court does not want any interference in the functioning of the Delhi government.