The Delhi High Court on Friday denied Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea to pre-pone the hearing of his petition challenging a trial court’s decision to take cognizance of a charge sheet filed against him in a money laundering case. The court confirmed that the matter would proceed as scheduled on December 20.
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri rejected Kejriwal’s request for an earlier date and stated, “The matter will be heard on the same date.” I have a lot on the board to hear.”
Kejriwal sought an expedited hearing, but after the court refused, his legal team requested the court to direct the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to provide a copy of its reply to the petition in advance. The court instructed the ED’s lawyer to comply with the request, stating, “Whatever you file, give it to them also.”
The Delhi High Court had previously declined to stay the trial court proceedings against Kejriwal on November 21. The court issued a notice and sought the ED’s response to Kejriwal’s plea, in which the Delhi CM argued that the trial court’s order was flawed because the authorities filed the chargesheet without obtaining the necessary sanction for his prosecution as a public servant.
Kejriwal seeks to quash his prosecution, claiming lack of approval, while ED counters with proof of necessary sanction.
The CBI and ED investigations suggest that the policy’s modifications led to undue favours for license holders, triggering the money laundering probe following a recommendation by Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.
