The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has extended Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody in the excise policy case until August 27.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja has set the next hearing for the same day, during which the court will also review the Enforcement Directorate’s supplementary chargesheet against Kejriwal and others.

Senior Advocate D.P. Singh appeared on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Last week, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the CBI in response to Kejriwal’s bail plea, challenging a Delhi High Court order that upheld his arrest in connection with the alleged excise policy scam.

Also Read:Supreme Court refuses interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal, seeks CBI response by August 23

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit its response by August 23, while denying interim bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued for interim bail on health grounds, but the bench responded “We are not granting any interim bail. we issue notice,” ANI reported.

Singhvi highlighted that Kejriwal had been granted interim bail on three occasions in the money laundering case, despite the strict provisions under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Also Read:Arvind Kejriwal gets interim bail from Supreme Court in Delhi liquor scam

He questioned why regular bail was being denied in the CBI case, especially since the Prevention of Corruption Act does not impose similarly stringent conditions. Singhvi referred to Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI as an “insurance arrest.”

The Supreme Court was hearing Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest, along with a separate plea seeking bail. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21, 2024, in connection with a money laundering investigation related to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. He was subsequently arrested by the CBI on June 26, 2024, while still in ED custody.

(With ANI inputs)