During a Supreme Court hearing on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s petition challenging his arrest, former US President Donald Trump was humorously referenced. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, remarked that “Trump” has become a “dangerous word” nowadays.
Singhvi’s comment came while emphasizing that Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and liberty, should take precedence. He quipped, “Article 21 of the Constitution will trump… Nowadays, Trump is a dangerous word,” referring to Donald Trump, who is seeking a second term as US president.
The Supreme Court bench, led by Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, is hearing Kejriwal’s petition, which could result in his release from prison after more than five months. Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 and denied bail by the Delhi High Court, which deemed his arrest legal on August 5.
The outcome of the hearing is critical for the Aam Aadmi Party chief, who remains in jail despite receiving interim bail in a related Enforcement Directorate case. On August 14, the Supreme Court had refused to grant him interim bail in this case, asking for a response from the investigative agency.
The Delhi High Court had previously ruled on August 5 that Kejriwal’s arrest was lawful and found no malice in the CBI’s actions. The court stated that witnesses, allegedly influenced by Kejriwal, only felt empowered to speak out after his arrest.
The case stems from alleged irregularities and corruption in the formulation and execution of Delhi’s excise policy, which was scrapped in 2022 after a CBI probe was ordered by the Delhi lieutenant governor. Both the CBI and ED have accused Kejriwal of extending undue favors to license holders under the modified policy.