Excise Policy Case: Delhi High Court Seeks CBI Response on Arvind Kejriwal's Bail Plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea in a corruption case linked to the now-defunct excise policy. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, presiding over a single-judge bench, issued the notice and set a date for further proceedings. The court acknowledged CBI's argument that Kejriwal had not first applied for bail in the trial court, stating this would be considered during arguments.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal said, "AAP leader is not a flight risk and not a terrorist and the CBI arrested him after he got bail in the ED's money laundering case." Justice Neena Bansal Krishna remarked, "Notice accepted. Petitioner has approached directly before the HC, this contention shall be considered at the time of arguments."

The case has been scheduled for the next hearing on July 17, alongside Kejriwal's challenge to his arrest by the CBI and his three-day remand. Kejriwal, national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was taken into custody by the CBI from Tihar Jail, where he remains under judicial custody for a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Previously arrested by the ED on March 21, Kejriwal obtained bail from the trial court on June 20, a decision later stayed by the high court. His judicial custody in the ED case has been extended until July 12 by a trial court order issued on Wednesday. In related proceedings, the court is deliberating on Kejriwal's application to have his wife present during consultations with the medical board from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The legal developments follow Kejriwal's interactions with the CBI while in custody at Tihar Jail, where he faced questioning over the excise policy case.