The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday described Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as the ‘sutradhaar’ (central figure) of the excise policy case during the hearing of his bail plea in the Delhi High Court.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, presiding over the case, reserved the verdict on Kejriwal’s bail and the plea challenging his arrest. Earlier in the day, the CBI also filed its final chargesheet against Kejriwal, asserting his pivotal role in the excise policy scam.
During the hearing, the CBI’s counsel argued that Kejriwal, as the head of the cabinet, signed and circulated the excise policy for approval from his colleagues within a single day during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency claimed that this rapid approval process indicated Kejriwal’s direct involvement.
The CBI further presented testimony from IAS officer C. Aravind, who stated that Vijay Nair brought a copy of the excise policy for computer entry in Kejriwal’s presence. This, according to the CBI, implicates Kejriwal in the matter.
Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while he was already in judicial custody in Tihar Jail until July 3 in connection with a money-laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court later extended his judicial custody until August 8.
The AAP supremo had previously filed a plea arguing that the CBI had failed to present any new evidence after June 4 to justify his continued investigation and arrest. He also challenged the June 26 order of the trial court, which granted the CBI a three-day remand.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, contended that his arrest was an “insurance arrest” to prevent his release, despite favorable orders in the ED case. Singhvi argued that Kejriwal had effectively secured three release orders under stringent provisions, which would have led to his release if not for the CBI’s intervention.
The Supreme Court provided a respite for Kejriwal earlier this month by granting interim bail in the case registered by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act related to the same liquor policy case. Kejriwal has been in jail since March 21, under investigation by the ED for money laundering.
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