In summary,
- Arvind Kejriwal has submitted two petitions to the Supreme Court regarding the liquor policy case.
- The Chief Minister of Delhi is contesting his arrest by the CBI and is requesting bail.
- Previously, he was granted bail in this matter by the Enforcement Directorate.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court denied interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case initiated by the CBI, which is related to the purported excise policy scam.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued a notice to the CBI regarding the plea, in which Kejriwal contested his arrest and requested bail. The court has set the hearing for August 23, indicating that “no interim bail will be granted at this time.” Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, requested interim bail on the basis of health concerns, prompting Justice Surya Kant to order the issuance of a notice.
Singhvi stated, “We have submitted a request for interim bail on the grounds of health concerns.” In reply, Justice Kant stated, “No interim bail will be granted.”
Singhvi contended, “The CBI’s arrest occurred just as the ED’s judgment was imminent. There are significant health issues at play, and we are advocating for interim bail.”
Justice Kant countered, “We will not be granting any interim bail. A notice is being issued.”
The plea from the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), submitted following the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of his challenge to the arrest, was considered by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan. He has previously secured bail in the matter from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The Chief Minister of Delhi was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21, 2024, in connection with the now-repealed liquor policy of the AAP administration in the capital. Subsequently, he was also arrested by the CBI.
The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case on July 12. On Monday, the apex court agreed to consider Kejriwal’s request after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing him, requested an urgent hearing.
On August 5, the Delhi High Court dismissed Kejriwal’s plea, affirming the legality of his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and indicating that there was no malice in the actions of the central agency. The court noted that the arrest occurred only after adequate evidence was gathered and the necessary sanction was obtained.
The CBI contended that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader could potentially influence witnesses who might only feel emboldened to testify following his arrest.
In his argument before the High Court, Kejriwal claimed that, as the National Convenor of a national political party and a sitting Chief Minister, he was enduring “gross persecution and harassment for wholly malafide and extraneous considerations.”
However, the High Court remarked, “…it establishes that the loop of evidence against the petitioner got closed after the collection of relevant evidence following his arrest. No malice whatsoever can be gathered from the acts of the respondent (CBI).”
Kejriwal’s bail was granted by the Supreme Court shortly after senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia received bail in the same case, having spent 17 months in custody.
Central investigative agencies have alleged that irregularities occurred in the modification of the excise policy, with undue advantages provided to license holders by the Delhi government in 2022. The policy was subsequently revoked after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor mandated a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities and corruption.
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