A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking “extraordinary interim bail” for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, citing concerns for his safety due to his confinement with hardcore criminals.
Kejriwal is currently held in Tihar jail in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise policy scam.
The PIL
The plea argues that Kejriwal’s physical presence is crucial in his official duties as Chief Minister, enabling him to make prompt decisions on various public matters and issue directives for the welfare of the populace.
The Bench
The petition is scheduled for hearing on April 22 before a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P S Arora.
The petitioner, identified as a law student, opted to be represented as “We, the people of India” in the plea, stating a lack of interest in personal gain from the matter. The PIL contends that Kejriwal’s safety is compromised due to his incarceration alongside hardened criminals facing charges including rape, murder, dacoity, and bomb blasts.
Allegations in the plea suggest that despite security measures by jail authorities, several inmates, including notable figures like gangsters Prince Teotia and Tillu Tajpuria, have met untimely deaths in custody.
The petitioner asserts the exercise of their “veto power” to advocate for Kejriwal’s release on extraordinary interim bail in all ongoing criminal cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) until the completion of his term and trial.
