[BREAKING] “Notice Issued”: SC Denies Interim Bail Plea of Arvind Kejriwal | Hearing Set for August 23rd

The Supreme Court Today (Aug 14) issued notice on the petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal’s seeking bail in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy case.

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NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, the Supreme Court declined to grant interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to the alleged excise policy scam.

The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued a notice to the CBI in response to the plea filed by Kejriwal challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision that upheld his arrest by the investigative agency.

“We are not granting any interim bail. We will issue notice,”

-the bench conveyed to Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who was representing Kejriwal.

The case has been scheduled for a hearing on August 23.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who appeared for Kejriwal, sought interim bail on health grounds as Justice Surya Kant directed the issuance of a notice.

“We have filed for interim bail due to health issues,”

-Singhvi said.

In response, Justice Kant replied,

“No interim bail.”

Singhvi argued,

“Just when the ED judgment was about to be delivered, the CBI arrested him. There are health issues involved, and we are pressing for interim bail.”

Justice Kant responded,

“No interim bail. We are issuing a notice”.

Previously, on August 5, the Delhi High Court had upheld the legality of the Chief Minister’s arrest, ruling that there was no malice in the actions of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The court noted that Kejriwal’s arrest was justified as it showed how he could potentially influence witnesses, who only felt secure enough to testify following his detention.

The excise policy in question was scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor ordered a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities and corruption in the formulation and execution of the policy.

According to both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), there were irregularities in the modifications made to the excise policy, and undue favors were allegedly extended to license holders.

BACKGROUND

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, currently imprisoned, approached the Supreme Court in an effort to overturn his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to the Delhi excise policy case.

This legal move comes after the Delhi High Court, on August 5, declined to nullify Kejriwal’s arrest by the central investigative agency. The denial by the High Court prompted Kejriwal to file an immediate appeal before the Supreme Court, seeking relief.

The petition in the Supreme Court has been submitted through advocate Vivek Jain.

Kejriwal was apprehended by the CBI on June 26 while he was already under judicial custody due to a money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Although the Supreme Court later granted him interim bail in the ED case, Kejriwal remains incarcerated because he has not yet secured bail in the CBI case.

In his legal battle, Kejriwal had filed two distinct petitions before the Delhi High Court—one requesting bail and the other challenging the legality of his arrest by the CBI. However, the High Court rejected the petition to quash the arrest. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna ruled that

“there were adequate grounds to arrest Kejriwal.”

Regarding his bail application, the High Court did not delve into the substantive merits of the case but instead directed Kejriwal to seek bail from the trial court. Kejriwal had initially approached the High Court directly to request bail.

This legal situation unfolds in the backdrop of a recent Supreme Court decision where bail was granted to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, who is embroiled in the same case.

The Supreme Court expressed its concern that lower courts, including High Courts and trial courts, appear to be “playing it safe” by routinely denying bail in criminal cases, rather than adhering to the principle that “granting bail should be the norm.”

CASE TITLE:
Arvind Kejriwal v Central Bureau of Investigation.

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