[BREAKING] Arvind Kejriwal Approaches Delhi HC Over CBI Arrest In Excise Policy Case

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal filed a petition in the Delhi High Court Today (July 1st) to challenge his arrest and subsequent remand by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in connection with the excise policy case. Kejriwal’s move comes after a Delhi court, on June 26, upheld the legality of his arrest and ordered him into CBI custody for three days.

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[BREAKING] Arvind Kejriwal Approaches Delhi HC Over CBI Arrest In Excise Policy Case

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has taken legal action against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by filing a petition in the Delhi High Court on Monday. This move follows a Delhi court’s decision on June 26, which upheld the legality of his arrest and mandated a three-day CBI custody for Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy case.

On Saturday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor was remanded to judicial custody until July 12 in a corruption case related to an alleged scam. The court stated that Kejriwal’s name emerged as one of the “main conspirators” and noted that the ongoing investigation might require further custodial interrogation.

Kejriwal, who was presented in court by the CBI after his three-day custodial interrogation, faced a request from the central agency for 14-day judicial custody. The CBI alleged that Kejriwal did not cooperate with the investigation, providing “evasive replies deliberately.” The agency also expressed concerns in its remand plea that he might

“influence witnesses and evidence already exposed before him during the custodial interrogation and also the potential witnesses who are yet to be examined.”

Kejriwal, 55, was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while he was already in judicial custody in Tihar Jail for a related money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate.

Special Judge Sunena Sharma noted,

“Considering the fact that the conspiracy alleged against the accused (Kejriwal) involves a large number of persons who were involved in the formulation and implementation of excise policy and also the persons who acted as facilitators in the use of ill-gotten money, I find that there exist sufficient grounds for remanding the accused to judicial custody.”

The court highlighted evidence indicating that Vijay Nair, a close associate of Kejriwal and media-in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party, had contacted various liquor manufacturers and traders, demanding undue gratification in return for incorporating favorable provisions in the 2021-22 excise policy.

Additionally, the court noted that Kejriwal’s name surfaced as one of the “main conspirators of the criminal conspiracy” under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code.