On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court reserved its judgment on two pleas filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal is challenging his arrest and remand by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the excise policy case. Additionally, the court reserved its order on his plea seeking interim bail.
Special public prosecutor DP Singh, representing the CBI, argued that Kejriwal should not use the Supreme Court’s 21-day interim relief, granted for Lok Sabha elections, to his advantage in this case. Singh emphasized that Kejriwal cannot rely on a trial court’s June 20 order that granted him bail in the money laundering case, as the Delhi High Court had already stayed that order with a detailed 30-page reasoning.
Singh stated that the CBI has the liberty to arrest individuals based on “mere suspicion” and had “probable reasons” for arresting Kejriwal. He explained that the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) allows for arrests to facilitate investigations. Singh asserted that Kejriwal’s custodial interrogation was necessary to advance the investigation, and the CBI had enough evidence to suggest that Kejriwal could influence or derail the investigation.
The CBI prosecutor expressed concerns that Kejriwal might influence witnesses if released, given that the investigation is nearing completion. He urged that Kejriwal should first seek bail from the trial court, which is already hearing arguments on the charge. Singh argued that the trial court should have the opportunity to consider Kejriwal’s bail plea first, implying that the High Court should not intervene at this stage.
Kejriwal’s counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, criticized the CBI’s stance as a “delaying tactic.” Singhvi argued that the agency had not provided any substantial reason why the High Court should not hear Kejriwal’s bail plea. He pointed out that the CBI had not collected any new evidence against Kejriwal since January 2024. Singhvi also questioned the relevance of a new document dated June 13 that the CBI presented, which had not been used in earlier proceedings.
The court has reserved its judgment and will deliver its decision on Kejriwal’s pleas in due course.
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