Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court reserved its judgment on a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging his arrest and remand by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the excise policy case. The court also reserved its order on Kejriwal’s request for interim bail.
Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh, representing the CBI, argued that Kejriwal could not leverage the Supreme Court’s interim bail granted for 21 days, which was specifically for the Lok Sabha elections. Singh emphasized that the trial court’s June 20 order granting Kejriwal bail in a money laundering case was stayed by the Delhi High Court through a detailed 30-page order.
The CBI counsel asserted that the agency has the authority to arrest individuals based on “mere suspicion” and had “probable reasons” at the time of Kejriwal’s arrest. “The CrPC permits arrest for the purpose of investigation. Kejriwal’s arrest was necessary because his custodial interrogation had become essential,” Singh stated.
Singh further claimed that the CBI possessed “sufficient material” indicating Kejriwal’s potential to influence and disrupt the investigation. He added that the CBI is nearing the completion of its probe and has a “reasonable apprehension” that Kejriwal could influence witnesses if released.
The CBI counsel suggested that Kejriwal should first seek bail from the trial court. “The bench should benefit from the trial court’s reasoning. That court is already discussing the charges, and it should hear the bail plea first. I will not argue on the bail,” he said.
Kejriwal’s counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, criticized the CBI’s position as a ‘delaying tactic,’ arguing that the agency had not provided any valid reason for the court not to hear Kejriwal’s bail plea. Singhvi contended that the latest significant evidence the CBI had against Kejriwal dated back to January 2024.
“The probe agency has not collected any new evidence after January 2024, and now the CBI has introduced a new document from June 13, which has not been utilized previously. Can you present any new document post-arrest?” Singhvi questioned.
“You did not produce this when you issued the 41A notice. Where is this evidence? You cannot just make oral claims in court. Based on all available material, there is NOTHING NEW to justify Kejriwal’s arrest,” he added.
The court’s decision on both Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest and his request for interim bail is now awaited.
