Delhi HC reserves order on Kejriwal’s plea challenging arrest by CBI, next hearing on July 29

The Delhi High Court reserved its decision on Wednesday regarding Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the excise policy case. Additionally, the Court reserved its decision on Kejriwal’s interim bail request. 

The Court has posted the matter for the next hearing on July 29.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while he was already in Tihar Jail after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), with the agency accusing him of irregularities in Delhi’s 2021-22 excise policy, claiming it was designed to benefit certain liquor traders. The CBI argued that Kejriwal was not forthcoming with answers during their investigation.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that his arrest by the CBI in the alleged excise policy scam was an “insurance arrest”.

During the hearing, Kejriwal’s senior counsel not only challenged his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) but also requested his release on bail.

“It is unfortunately an insurance arrest. I have effectively three release orders in my favour (in ED case) under very stringent provisions… These orders show that the man is entitled to be released. He would have been released but for this insurance arrest,” argued senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener, before Justice Neena Bansal Krishna.

CBI’s counsel, DP Singh stated that the use of the term ‘insurance arrest’ was not justified. He argued that there have been multiple petitions and applications before the court and till date there were no observations regarding any violations by the CBI, Live Law reported.

Kejriwal is in judicial custody in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged scam. Recently, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case, while referring his petition challenging the arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a larger bench.

The Chief Minister was remanded to CBI custody for three days on June 26 by vacation judge Amitabh Rawat, observing that the arrest, at this stage, cannot be said to be illegal. However, the judge had said that while the arrest is not illegal, CBI should not be overzealous.

Later, on June 29, vacation judge Sunena Sharma remanded Kejriwal to judicial custody as CBI did not ask for his further remand at this stage.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21. In May, he was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 01 to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. He surrendered on June 2.