On Wednesday, the Supreme Court denied interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam. The court issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in response to Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and seeking bail, with a hearing scheduled for August 23. For now, no interim bail has been granted.
Kejriwal, who had previously received bail in a related case from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), saw his plea rejected by the Delhi High Court on August 5. The High Court upheld the legality of his arrest by the CBI, concluding that it was carried out with sufficient evidence and proper sanction.
The Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail in the ED case on July 12. Following his arrest by the ED on March 21, 2024, in connection with the controversial liquor policy, Kejriwal was also detained by the CBI. His plea for bail was urgently listed after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi requested it.
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The CBI has argued that Kejriwal’s release could lead to witness tampering, as witnesses might only come forward once he is detained. In his plea to the High Court, Kejriwal claimed that his arrest was an act of “gross persecution and harassment” driven by bad faith and extraneous considerations, given his position as a national political leader and sitting Chief Minister.
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