Today(on 17th July), Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued in the Delhi High Court that Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI in the liquor policy scam was a deliberate attempt to keep him in custody, emphasizing, “By hook or by crook… he is behind bars.”
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NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is at the center of two crucial legal proceedings. One concerns his plea for regular bail in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) complaint, and the other challenges his arrest by the CBI.
On July 5, the Court sought the CBI’s response to Kejriwal’s bail plea, noting that he approached the High Court directly for bail instead of first moving through the trial court.
Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while already in custody for the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case related to the excise policy scam. During the hearing, Kejriwal argued that the CBI action against him in the liquor policy case was merely an “insurance arrest.”
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued before the Delhi High Court, stating that the CBI’s intention was to keep Kejriwal behind bars by any means necessary.
Singhvi emphasized-
“I have three release orders in my favor: the first being the interim bail granted by the Supreme Court for election campaigning, the second being the recent interim bail, and the third being his release by the trial court under more stringent PMLA conditions, though this court has since stayed that order.”
Singhvi further highlighted the peculiar nature of the arrest, describing it as an “insurance arrest.” He elaborated-
“The notable aspect of this case is that it appears to be an ‘insurance arrest.’ Evidently, the CBI did not plan or possess sufficient grounds for the arrest but apprehended him preemptively, fearing his potential involvement in another case handled by the ED.”
Also, Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the proceedings at the Delhi High Court with forceful remarks, asserting that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s recent arrest by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy scam was aimed at ensuring his incarceration, stating-
‘By hook or by crook… he is behind bars.’
Background of the Arrest
The CBI, investigating allegations of corruption against Kejriwal linked to the liquor policy, arrested him from Tihar Jail on June 26. At that time, Kejriwal was already in judicial custody due to a money laundering case connected to the same scandal. Last week, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the ED case, further complicating the legal landscape.
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Singhvi stressed that Kejriwal’s continued imprisonment was solely due to the “insurance arrest.” He asserted-
“He is a Chief Minister, not a terrorist. There is no risk of flight or interference with evidence.”
Singhvi also commented on the broader implications of the arrest, suggesting a shift in the CBI’s approach.
“It’s evident that there are shifts in perspective within the CBI. I won’t attribute blame to the CBI alone; these changes seem to originate elsewhere.”
– he said, hinting at possible external influences on the investigation.
The Delhi High Court’s upcoming decisions on Kejriwal’s bail plea and the challenge to his arrest will significantly impact the ongoing political and legal drama. As the Court awaits the CBI’s response, Kejriwal’s legal team continues to argue that his arrest was unwarranted and politically motivated.
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