arvind-kejriwal-seeks-bail-in-delhi-hc-over-cbi-arrest

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has taken a decisive step in his legal battle, moving the Delhi High Court to seek bail in connection with a case involving the city's excise policy.

 

Kejriwal's arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26, 2024, has sparked a legal showdown, with his lawyers challenging both the arrest and the subsequent remand granted by the trial court.

 

Advocates Rajat Bharadwaj and Mohd Irshad urgently brought the matter before Acting Chief Justice Manmohan's bench, seeking an immediate listing. The court has agreed to hear the plea on July 5, 2024.

 

In response to Kejriwal's plea, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the CBI, setting a deadline for the agency to respond. Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that Kejriwal's arrest violated legal procedures outlined in Sections 41 and 60A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which mandate prior notice in cases where the maximum punishment exceeds seven years.

 

Kejriwal's plea contends that his arrest lacked justification, especially considering the ongoing two-year investigation. He argues that the arrest was based on pre-existing material in the CBI's possession before June 4, which he claims constitutes an illegal re-evaluation under the law.

 

Following his arrest, the Rouse Avenue Court sent Kejriwal to judicial custody on June 29. The CBI alleges that during his custody, Kejriwal did not cooperate with the investigation, providing evasive answers regarding amendments to Delhi's Excise Policy and meetings involving his associates.

 

The CBI further asserts that Kejriwal evaded questions about illicit money transfers during the Goa Assembly Elections and potential influence on witnesses, given his influential position as Delhi's Chief Minister.

 

Recently, the Delhi High Court intervened, staying a bail order from the trial court, emphasising procedural checks under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

 

The case continues to unfold amid heightened legal scrutiny and political ramifications for Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the upcoming legal hearings.