‘Let LG Take Action If He Wants’: SC Rejects Plea Seeking Removal Of Kejriwal As Delhi CM

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea seeking the removal of Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi's Chief Minister because of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor policy case. A bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna refused to entertain the plea and said it is up to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to act if he wants to but “we will not interfere”.

“What is the legal right? Why should we go into all this? On propriety you may certainly have something to say but no legal right. Let the LG take action if he wants to....we are not inclined,” Live Law quoted Justice Khanna as saying.

Earlier, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his campaign in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 till June 1, saying that the matter related to the validity of his arrest was still under consideration. 

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A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta directed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to surrender on June 2 and imposed restrictions on his access to the chief minister's office and the Delhi secretariat as conditions for his bail.

In its ruling, the court highlighted that the power to grant interim bail is exercised in various cases, with each case assessed based on its individual merits. The court clarified that this case is no exception to the general practice.

The court's decision comes as a significant development amid the ongoing poll campaign for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is contesting all seats in Punjab and four seats in Delhi in alliance with the Congress.

On April 10, the Delhi High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) while levying a fine of ₹50,000, citing the petitioner's apparent aim of seeking publicity. The court observed that despite being aware of three prior orders denying identical requests, the petitioner persisted with the petition.

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AAP supremo Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection to an alleged Delhi liquor policy case.

On April 10, the Delhi High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) while levying a fine of ₹50,000, citing the petitioner's apparent aim of seeking publicity. The court observed that despite being aware of three prior orders denying identical requests, the petitioner persisted with the petition.