Delhi HC Upholds Kejriwal’s Arrest in Excise Policy Case, Dismisses Bail Plea

In a significant setback for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi High Court dismissed his plea challenging his arrest and remand by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Delhi excise policy case. The court, led by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, ruled that Kejriwal’s arrest was not without “justifiable reasons,” stating that it could not be deemed illegal.

Kejriwal had argued that his arrest violated the Supreme Court’s guidelines in the Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar case and Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Despite these claims, the court disposed of his bail plea, granting him the liberty to seek relief from the trial court.

The CBI had detained Kejriwal following his bail in a related Enforcement Directorate (ED) money laundering case. The agency labeled him the “sutradhar” or facilitator of the alleged scam, presenting new evidence of his involvement. According to the CBI, Kejriwal signed and expedited the excise policy, which was later entered into a computer by IAS officer C. Aravind in the presence of Kejriwal and Vijay Nair.

Kejriwal’s defense, led by Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, contended that no direct evidence implicated him. However, both the CBI and ED accused him and other AAP leaders of granting undue benefits to a select group of businessmen and politicians in return for kickbacks in the now-scrapped excise policy.