Last updated:November 21, 2024, 4:11 PM IST

On November 12, the Supreme Court sought the ED’s reply on another plea filed by Kejriwal challenging summons issued to him on the agency’s complaint

The ED had arrested Arvind Kejriwal in March in a money laundering case linked to Delhi’s now scrapped excise policy. (PTI/File)

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay the trial of former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, who is accused in a case of irregularities linked to Delhi’s 2021-22 excise policy.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri further sought a response from the investigating agency Enforcement Directorate on Kejriwal’s plea challenging a trial court’s decision to take cognizance of a charge sheet in the case.

The case will be heard on December 20.

Kejriwal sought quashing of the trial order, arguing that cognizance of the charge was taken by the special court in the absence of any sanction for his charge as he was a public servant when the alleged offense was committed.

However, Advocate General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, submitted a sanction was obtained to prosecute Kejriwal and he would file an affidavit.

The former CM sought an early date for the hearing when the court first published the hearing next year and his lawyer insisted that his stay plea be granted during the day due to urgency.

Mehta sought to file a reply to the stay application, pointing out that such an approach was unfair.

On November 12, the Supreme Court sought the ED’s reply on another plea filed by Kejriwal challenging summons issued to him on the agency’s complaint in the money laundering case.

The Supreme Court refused to stay the proceedings in the criminal case for the time being.

While Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on July 12 in the money laundering case, the Supreme Court released him on bail in the CBI case on September 13.

According to the CBI and ED, irregularities were committed while the excise policy was being changed and undue benefits were being extended to the license holders.

The Delhi government implemented the policy on 17 November 2021 and scrapped it in late September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.

The money laundering case stems from a CBI case filed after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)