The Supreme Court on Tuesday said if it gives Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal interim bail, it won’t allow him to perform official duties.
The apex court, while hearing Kejriwal’s bail plea, said: “If you perform official duties, then it will be conflict of interest and we don’t want that.”
Kejriwal’s bail plea was heard by the bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta who said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor performing official functions of a Chief Minister while on interim bail may have a cascading effect.
“Suppose we release you, and you are allowed to participate in elections, you will be performing official duties…it can have cascading effects…We make it clear, we don’t want you to be performing official duties if we release you,” Justice Sanjiv Khanna said during the hearing.
Hearing in the matter will continue in the post-lunch session.
Kejriwal has challenged his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The top court is considering the question of releasing the Delhi CM on interim bail to campaign amid the upcoming general elections.
During the hearing, Kejriwal told the court that he was willing to furnish an undertaking to not “sign any official files” if he is released on interim bail in the excise policy case.
“…he will not sign any files, with a condition that LG may not stop any work on the ground that I have not signed any file,” Senior Advocate AM Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal told the SC.
Meanwhile, the ED has opposed interim relief, stating that Kejriwal cannot be treated as a class apart and that his case has to be treated at the same pedestal as any other common man.
Responding to that, the court said: “He is elected Chief Minister of Delhi. There are elections…These are extraordinary circumstances. He’s not a habitual offender.”
With inputs from agencies
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Don’t want you to perform official duties if we release you: SC to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
