Kejriwal seeks NOC for passport renewal; court issues notice to ED, CBI
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New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved an application before the Rouse Avenue Court seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the renewal of his passport, which has been expired since 2018. The request comes as part of the procedural requirements for renewing a passport while in judicial custody.
Taking note of the plea, the court has issued notices to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), asking them to file their responses. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on June 4.
Kejriwal, currently out on interim bail in the Delhi excise policy case, was arrested in March 2024 on charges of alleged money laundering and corruption related to the now-scrapped liquor policy. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court nearly six months after his arrest.
His legal counsel informed the court that the expired passport requires judicial clearance for renewal. During the hearing, the CBI expressed readiness to proceed with arguments on the framing of charges. However, the agency also raised concerns regarding the frequent filing of petitions in the matter. According to sources, the CBI pointed out that the court had already stated that no new petitions should be filed, yet several remain pending.
On the same day, Kejriwal and co-accused, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K. Kavitha, and others, appeared before the court via video conferencing.
The proceedings signified progress in the long-delayed excise policy case, which has seen extensive delays and procedural hurdles since it was registered over two-and-a-half years ago. A breakthrough occurred on May 23, when Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh resolved a dispute over document scrutiny that had stalled the case for nearly a year, despite the CBI having completed its investigation much earlier.
The case has seen around 25 adjournments in the past 10 months, largely due to repeated requests from the accused for detailed arguments and document examination, leading to prolonged back-and-forth between the defence and prosecution.
With IANS inputs
