New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow pleas of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest in an excise policy-linked corruption case and non-grant of bail in the case.
A top court bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan will hear Kejriwal’s pleas.
Kejriwal has moved the apex court against orders of the Delhi High Court upholding his arrest in the corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and directing him to approach trial court for bail.
Delhi High Court upheld Kejriwal’s arrest in CBI case
The High Court, while upholding Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI, said that there was no malice in the acts of the CBI. The High Court also rejected his submissions that his arrest in the CBI case was an “insurance arrest” and he was arrested by the central agency because the CBI felt that he may come out in the money laundering case and therefore, the CBI arrested him.
What did the Delhi High Court say?
The High Court said that the prosecution has explained that the CBI treaded with trepidation and caution respecting his position as a Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi and proceeded to collect the evidence from other persons suspected to be the accused.
“The reasons for not proceeding immediately against the petitioner, after registration of the FIR is thus, well explained by the CBI and does not reek of malice,” the High Court said while dismissing Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest.
The High Court further said that Kejriwal is not an ordinary person but he is the Chief Minister of National Capital Territory of Delhi and the national convenor of Aam Aadmi Party, which has its Government in Punjab and that there were links of this crime even in Punjab but the material witnesses were not forthcoming for the simple reason of the influence exercised by the petitioner, by virtue of his position.
“It is only when he was arrested that the witnesses from the Punjab came forth to get their statements recorded and in fact, two of those witnesses, turned approver against the petitioner,” the High Court said while dismissing Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest in corruption case.
Apex Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in money laundering case
Kejriwal, who is currently lodged in the judicial custody in Tihar Jail in corruption case, has also been arrested in an excise policy-linked money laundering case, however, the apex court on July 12 granted him interim bail in the money laundering case.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED in the money laundering case on March 21 and he was later arrested by the CBI in the corruption case on June 26.
