Delhi HC junks PIL seeking ‘extraordinary bail’ for Arvind Kejriwal, slaps Rs 75,000 fine

The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on “extraordinary interim bail”. The court termed the PIL as “frivolous” and imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 on the petitioner.

A fourth-year-law student under the name ‘We the People of India’ filed the request. The court said that it was not maintainable because, under its writ jurisdiction, courts cannot award extraordinary interim bail in pending proceedings involving people who have been accused of high office.

The court stated, “We have said at times personal interest has to be subordinate to national interest. But that is the Chief Minister’s call. We are no one to advise him.”

The PIL argued that the incarceration of Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail with hardened criminals who are prosecuted for crimes like rape, dacoity, murder, and bomb explosion puts his safety in concern.

In his representation of Arvind Kejriwal, senior advocate Rahul Mehra called the PIL “completely impermissible” and “misguided,” claiming that the petitioner was using the court as a political platform. Mehra went on to say that the same panel has previously rejected pleas to have Arvind Kejriwal removed after his arrest; the most recent instance was rejected at a cost of Rs 50,000.

Remarkably, the petitioner declared that he had chosen to use his “veto power” to grant the Delhi Chief Minister exceptional interim release till the end of Kejriwal’s term and the resolution of the cases the ED and CBI had filed against him.

Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal continues to be in custody in connection with the case against him. His legal team is expected to challenge the charges and seek appropriate legal remedies by the law.