The Supreme Court of India will hear two pleas filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about the ongoing investigation into the alleged excise policy scam. These pleas challenge his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and seek bail in the corruption case filed by the agency.
The Supreme Court, however, denied interim bail to Kejriwal on Wednesday in the CBI case. The court also plans to address his separate plea, challenging the legality of his arrest by the CBI. Both matters will be heard by a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan.
Kejriwal's legal troubles began when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him on March 21, 2024, in connection with the now-scrapped liquor policy implemented by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi. The ED case, related to alleged money laundering linked to the policy, led to his arrest. Kejriwal later secured interim bail from the Supreme Court in that case on July 12. Subsequently, the CBI also arrested him in connection with the corruption aspect of the same case.
Kejriwal's current pleas follow a recent decision by the Delhi High Court on August 5, which rejected his bail plea and upheld the legality of his arrest by the CBI. The High Court stated that the CBI's actions were justified, citing sufficient evidence and proper procedural conduct by the agency.
The Supreme Court's decision to consider Kejriwal's plea comes after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, urgently requested a hearing. The pleas are significant, particularly in light of the recent bail granted to senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the same case after 17 months in jail. Some legal experts believe that Sisodia's release could influence Kejriwal's case.
The crux of the investigation centers around alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government's excise policy in 2022, which was later scrapped following a directive from the Delhi Lieutenant Governor for a CBI investigation. The central probe agencies claim that the policy modifications benefited certain license holders, leading to corruption and undue favors.
Kejriwal has argued that his arrest is politically motivated, aimed at harassing him due to his position as a prominent political leader. However, the High Court emphasized that the CBI's actions were based on concrete evidence and followed due process, dismissing claims of malice or extraneous motivations.
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