The Delhi High Court has begun hearing on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea in the corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. The matter is being heard by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna on a court holiday. During the hearing, Kejriwal's lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that his arrest by the CBI in the alleged excise policy scam was an "insurance arrest".
Singhvi argued, "It is unfortunately an insurance arrest. I have effectively three release orders in my favour (in ED case) under very stringent provisions... These orders show that the man is entitled to be released. He would have been released but for this insurance arrest." Asserting that Kejriwal was "not a terrorist", Singhvi claimed that his arrest was not as per the mandate of the law and Kejriwal was entitled to bail. Countering both the pleas by Kejriwal -- one challenging his arrest and the other seeking bail, advocate DP Singh argued on behalf of the CBI and said calling Kejriwal's arrest an "insurance arrest" was "unjustified". Earlier this month, the Delhi High asked the CBI to respond to the Aam Aadmi Party chief's bail plea.
Kejriwal moved to seek bail, asserting that his arrest by the CBI was unnecessary and illegal in the context of the case against him. Represented by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, Kejriwal's defence had emphasised that he poses no flight risk nor does he present any threat akin to a terrorist. Singhvi had highlighted that Kejriwal was taken into custody by the CBI right after being granted bail in a separate money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate. Stressing Kejriwal's deep societal connections, Singhvi had pressed for immediate interim relief in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Kejriwal lodged in Tihar jail
However, advocate DP Singh, representing the CBI, raised objections over Kejriwal's approach directly to the high court without first pursuing a bail plea in the trial court. The high court took note of the objection and said "the contention shall be considered at the time of arguments". It should be noted here that a Delhi court has extended the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal till July 25 in the CBI case related to the money laundering case linked to the excise policy case. This came after the Supreme Court granted interim bail to the Delhi Chief Minister in the case lodged by the ED in the alleged excise policy scam. However, he remained in jail as the CBI had later arrested him in a related matter.
Delhi Excise policy case
The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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