DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday opposed Arvind Kejriwal's interim bail plea in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam and told the Supreme Court that right to campaign in polls was neither a fundamental nor constitutional right.
The probe agency filed a fresh affidavit in the apex court and asserted that no political leader has ever been granted interim bail for campaigning. The ED said that Arvind Kejriwal is not contesting Lok Sabha polls and added "even contesting candidate is not granted interim bail for his own campaigning if the candidate is in custody."
Strongly opposing any interim relief to Kejriwal, ED said there is absolutely no principle that justifies giving a differential treatment to a politician for campaigning over a farmer or a businessman who wishes to pursue his vocation.
"Grant of interim bail merely for political campaigning would militate against and will be discriminatory to the rule of equality as work/business/profession or activity of every citizen is equally important to him or her," the ED said in its affidavit.
The top court had earlier heard arguments from both sides but did not pass any order. The bench had said it could consider granting interim bail to Delhi chief minister due to Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. On Wednesday, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who headed the bench that heard Kejriwal's petition against his arrest in the case, said, "We will pronounce the interim order (on bail) on Friday. The main matter related to the challenge to arrest will also be taken up on the same day."