Arvind Kejriwal Arrested By CBI In Delhi Liquor Policy Case, Withdraws Bail Plea In Supreme Court — All About It

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday (26 June) formally arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case.

The arrest came after Special Judge Amitabh Rawat of Rouse Avenue court in Delhi refused to interfere with the CBI probe at this stage.

The Court, however, said that Kejriwal will be given copies of the CBI's plea seeking his custodial interrogation and the order passed on 24 June by which the agency was allowed to examine the Delhi Chief Minister in Tihar Jail, Bar and Bench reported.

Following the arrest by the CBI, Kejriwal withdrew the petition filed in the Supreme Court challenging the order passed by the Delhi High Court staying his bail in the money laundering case filed by ED.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, apprised the SC vacation Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and SV Bhatti that he intends to withdraw the present plea to file a fresh one challenging the final order passed by the High Court on June 25.

Accordingly, the Bench permitted the Delhi CM to file a fresh plea. 

On Wednesday, the CBI sought Kejriwal's custody before the Rouse Avenue Court. However, the court pointed out that Kejriwal was not formally arrested yet by the CBI.

"I would like to seek formal custody to interrogate and make a formal arrest," the CBI lawyer told the court.

Opposing the CBI's demand, Kejriwal's lawyer Vikram Chaudhari said he was not informed about the CBI moving an application before the court and securing an order to question him.

"The manner in which this has been done is of grave concern. Please allow us access to the documents and defer this hearing to tomorrow... Heavens will not fall if we file a reply," Kejriwal's counsel said.

The CBI, represented by senior advocate DP Singh, said that investigation was the prerogative of the agency and the law does not mandate that the accused should be informed.

"The law does not say that I have to tell them when I want to go and investigate him. The same thing happened in the case of K Kavitha. I only need the court's permission," the CBI said.

Kejriwal is already in jail in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy of 2021-22.

He arrested on 21 March by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi Liqour scam.

On 25 June, the CBI took Arvind Kejriwal's statement from jail and sought his production before the trial court today.

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