New Delhi, May 16 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday objected to the statement of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while campaigning that ‘if people of India vote for Aam Aadmi Party, he will not have to go back to jail’.

“This is a slap on the face of the institution” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said before a bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta who is hearing Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the ED in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi Excise Policy scam.

During the hearing, the SG requested the court to cancel the interim bail of Kejriwal as he is violating the conditions of the bail. However, the SC rejected the request.

The Apex Court granted Kejriwal interim bail till June 1 for the Lok Sabha election campaigning and asked him to surrender on June 2.

The Top Court said, “Our order is very clear on when he has to surrender. Rule of law has to be followed”.

On the last hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal had requested the court to extend his bail till June 5 as the Lok Sabha Election results are to be pronounced on June 4, 2024, but the Apex Court had rejected the plea of Kejriwal and directed him to surrender on June 2.

UNI