“Arrest By CBI ‘Insurance Arrest'”: Kejriwal Tells Delhi HC

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal argued before the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that his arrest by the CBI in the alleged excise policy scam was unwarranted and described it as an “insurance arrest.”

His senior counsel, Abhishek Singhvi, emphasized that Kejriwal had multiple release orders in his favor in an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case, indicating his entitlement to release.

Singhvi, representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, asserted that Kejriwal, as a Chief Minister, was not a terrorist and thus should be granted bail in accordance with legal provisions.

In response, Advocate DP Singh, representing the CBI, opposed Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and seeking bail, dismissing the term “insurance arrest” as unjustified.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 from Tihar Jail, where he remains in judicial custody in connection with a related money laundering case filed by the ED. He had previously been arrested by the ED on March 21 but was granted bail by a trial court on June 20, a decision that was subsequently stayed by the high court. The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case on July 12.

The excise policy under scrutiny was annulled in 2022 following a CBI probe prompted by alleged irregularities and corruption in its formulation and execution. Both the CBI and the ED have alleged that modifications to the excise policy involved irregularities and undue favors to license holders.