The Delhi High Court has rejected Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea and dismissed his challenge against the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) arrest in the ongoing liquor policy scam case. This decision marks a significant development in the high-profile case that has seen Kejriwal entangled in legal battles for several months.
Court’s Decision
On Monday, the Delhi High Court ruled against Kejriwal’s request for bail and his challenge to the CBI’s arrest. The court has directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to seek relief from the trial court before pursuing further legal avenues. AAP sources indicated that Kejriwal plans to appeal the decision before the Supreme Court.
Background of the Case
Arvind Kejriwal, who was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March, has now been in custody for 115 days. Despite the Supreme Court granting him regular bail on July 12, this bail was only for the ED’s arrest, not the CBI’s subsequent arrest in June.
The CBI’s arrest of Kejriwal came shortly after the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court had granted bail to the Chief Minister in an earlier ruling, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court. The ongoing case involves allegations related to the liquor policy scam, and the CBI has traced a financial trail amounting to ₹44 crore.
Legal Arguments
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, criticized the CBI’s case as based on hearsay and argued that there was no direct evidence or recovery of funds. Singhvi questioned the CBI’s reliance on presumptions and hypothesized that the case against Kejriwal was being constructed without substantive proof.
Singhvi argued that Kejriwal met the conditions for bail, asserting that the Chief Minister was not a flight risk, was unlikely to tamper with evidence, and would not influence witnesses. He labeled Kejriwal’s arrest as an “insurance arrest,” suggesting that the arrest was an attempt to ensure continued detention despite multiple bail grants in the ED case.
CBI’s Position
The CBI, in response, maintained that it had traced a significant financial trail related to the scam. The agency’s assertion of a ₹44 crore money trail underpins its investigation and continues to form the basis of the legal proceedings against Kejriwal.
Next Steps
With the Delhi High Court’s dismissal, Kejriwal’s legal team is expected to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. The ongoing legal battle highlights the intense scrutiny and high stakes involved in the case against the Delhi Chief Minister.
