Delhi High Court reserves decision on Kejriwal's arrest challenge and interim bail plea in excise case

The Delhi High Court has reserved its ruling on July 17 concerning Arvind Kejriwal's petitions against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to the excise policy case, as well as his request for interim bail.

Kejriwal’s senior lawyer vigorously opposed the CBI's arrest of the Chief Minister and simultaneously sought his release on bail.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna presided over the proceedings on a holiday for Muharram, considering arguments from both Kejriwal’s and the CBI’s legal teams before reserving the court's decision.

The High Court has scheduled a further hearing on Kejriwal's regular bail application for July 29.

Representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi criticized the arrest as an "insurance arrest," suggesting it was intended to prevent Kejriwal from being released from jail. Singhvi said, "It is unfortunately an insurance arrest. I have effectively three release orders in my favour (in the ED case) under very stringent provisions... These orders show that the man is entitled to be released. He would have been released but for this insurance arrest."

Singhvi highlighted that Kejriwal is "not a terrorist" but the elected Chief Minister of Delhi, arguing that his arrest did not align with legal mandates and that he should be granted bail based on his position.

CBI's lawyer, advocate D P Singh, opposed Kejriwal’s petitions, arguing that labeling the arrest as an "insurance arrest" was unwarranted and unjustified.

Kejriwal was taken into custody by the CBI on June 26 while already held at Tihar Jail due to a related money laundering case initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The Chief Minister had initially been arrested by the ED on March 21, and despite being granted bail by the trial court on June 20 in the money laundering case, the High Court stayed this order.

Later, on July 12, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in the money laundering case.

The excise policy at the heart of this case was revoked in 2022 following an order from the Delhi Lieutenant Governor for a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities and corruption during its formulation and implementation.

The CBI and ED have alleged that changes to the excise policy included irregularities and that undue favours were extended to license holders.