Big Blow to Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi HC Upholds CBI Arrest in Excise Policy Case

In a big setback for Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi High Court on Monday (August 5) upheld his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

A single bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna dismissed Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest, ruling that it was not without justifiable reason. The high court also disposed of the AAP national convenor’s bail plea, allowing him to seek relief from the trial court.

On July 17, the high court had reserved its order on Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the CBI. It had also reserved the order on his bail plea on July 29 after hearing arguments from both Kejriwal’s counsel and the central agency.

The AAP convenor was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while he was in Tihar Jail, where he was held in judicial custody in a related money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He had been arrested by the ED on March 21 and was granted bail by the trial court in the money laundering case on June 20. However, this order was stayed by the high court.

The Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the money laundering case on July 12. The excise policy in question was annulled in 2022 after a CBI investigation, prompted by the Delhi lieutenant governor, revealed alleged irregularities and corruption in its implementation.

Both the CBI and the ED have claimed that there were significant irregularities in the modification of the excise policy, with undue advantages allegedly granted to license holders.

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