New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Delhi High Court seeking bail in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to the controversial excise policy. The court has scheduled a hearing for July 5.
Kejriwal, who was arrested on June 26, is challenging both his arrest and the remand granted by the trial court. His legal team, including advocates Rajat Bharadwaj and Mohd Irshad, appealed to Acting Chief Justice Manmohan for an urgent hearing.
In his plea, Kejriwal argues that his arrest violates Sections 41 and 60A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). He contends that for offences punishable by up to seven years, compliance with these sections is mandatory. The Chief Minister also claims that no proper justification was provided for his arrest, especially given that the investigation has been ongoing for two years.
Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, will present these arguments in court. The Delhi High Court had previously issued a notice to the CBI on Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest, with a detailed hearing scheduled for July 17.
The CBI alleges that during his police custody, Kejriwal did not cooperate with the investigation and gave evasive replies. They claim he failed to explain several key points, including the enhancement of profit margins for wholesalers under the new Excise Policy and his alleged meetings with various stakeholders in the liquor business.
Kejriwal is currently in judicial custody. The CBI has expressed concerns about his influence as a prominent politician and Chief Minister, suggesting he might tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.
This development comes after the Delhi High Court recently stayed a bail order passed by the trial court for Kejriwal in a related case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).