On September 13, 2024, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior lawyer and Arvind Kejriwal’s counsel, addressed concerns regarding the bail conditions imposed on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. Singhvi clarified that recent misinformation suggested that Kejriwal is unable to sign any official files while on bail, which he stated is not accurate.
Singhvi explained that the Supreme Court’s bail order does not alter the previous conditions set on July 12, 2024. According to the July order, Kejriwal can sign files required for clearance or approval from the Lieutenant Governor, but does not handle other files himself. Singhvi emphasized that the bail conditions do not prevent Kejriwal from functioning as Chief Minister, refuting claims of a governance crisis.
The conditions retained by the court include:
- Kejriwal must be present at each trial hearing, unless exempted.
- He must fully cooperate in the trial’s expeditious conclusion.
The conditions that were removed include:
- A restriction on visiting the Delhi Secretariat.
- A prohibition on signing official files.
However, Singhvi noted that previous restrictions set by the bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, which include limitations on signing files and interacting with witnesses, remain in place. For these restrictions to be modified, Kejriwal would need to approach the Chief Justice of India to request a review by a larger bench.
Leave a Reply