Delhi High Court halts Kejriwal’s pre-election meeting bail in money laundering case In a disappointment to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the high court has stayed the bailable branch given to him by the sessions judge in an economic offense case.
ED had gone to the trial court against ordering the bail for PMLA; the trial court has not properly applied the twin test in a strict sense about the grant of bail.
The PMLA narrows down the chances of an accused person obtaining bail because the accused must demonstrate his innocence and assure the court that he will not re-offend once let off. This provision has been blurred with legal battles where the Supreme Court nullified it as unconstitutional but was reinstated by the Parliament.
Kejriwal sought the Delhi High Court to grant bail following charges leveled against him under the PMLA; however, the High Court has not yet released him on bail since the matter is still pending to be heard next week.
While there are criticisms expressed in the media and among professionals regarding the linkage between money laundering and anti-terror and narcotics, the government has defended its stand on the assertion that such people are ‘powerful, smart and spirited. ‘
The exact future of Kejriwal depends on this case because the verdict can prove crucial for deciding the civil liberties of Indian citizens in the modern world in essential aspects, including the rights of the people accused under the PMLA.
