The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea and challenge to his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. This decision comes despite Mr. Kejriwal’s earlier release on bail granted by the Supreme Court in a related case involving the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Kejriwal, who has now spent 115 days in jail, had initially been arrested by the ED in March, just weeks before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Supreme Court had granted him bail on July 12, specifically concerning the ED’s charges, but this did not extend to the CBI’s case. The CBI arrested him in June, shortly after the Rouse Avenue Court had granted bail for the ED’s case.
The High Court’s dismissal of Kejriwal’s bail plea means that he must first seek relief from the trial court before further pursuing his case. AAP sources indicate that Kejriwal plans to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court.
During Monday’s hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, criticized the CBI’s case as based on hearsay and argued that there is no direct evidence against his client. Singhvi described the arrest as an “insurance arrest” and claimed that the CBI’s efforts to implicate Kejriwal were based on presumptions rather than substantive proof.
Singhvi asserted that Kejriwal met all criteria for bail, including not being a flight risk, and insisted there was no risk of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. The CBI, however, contends that they have traced a ₹44 crore money trail in the case.
Sources By Agencies
