High Court Reserves Order on Arvind Kejriwal’s Interim Bail Plea Amidst Corruption Case
New Delhi, 17th July 2024: The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case related to the liquor policy. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna also reserved her order on Kejriwal’s interim bail plea. Representing Kejriwal were Senior Advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi, N Hariharan, and Vikram Chaudhari, while Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh appeared for the CBI.
Singhvi argued that Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI was a preemptive move after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He characterized it as an “insurance arrest,” aimed at circumventing the Supreme Court’s bail order. Singhvi pointed out deficiencies in the CBI’s procedures, noting that Kejriwal was not given prior notice before his arrest, and the arrest application lacked specificity on legal grounds.
He emphasized that Kejriwal had already been cooperative during earlier interrogations and argued that the arrest was unnecessary, citing Kejriwal’s health concerns and compliance with investigative procedures. Singhvi stressed that Kejriwal’s arrest was intended to obstruct the legal process rather than serve legitimate investigative purposes.
In response, DP Singh, representing the CBI, defended the arrest as justified and legal under Section 41 of the law, asserting the agency’s discretion in determining when to arrest a suspect. He refuted the characterization of an “insurance arrest,” stating it was based on procedural necessities and the evolving nature of the investigation. Singh highlighted the ongoing preparation of a chargesheet against Kejriwal and argued that his bail plea should be decided in the trial court, which has the appropriate jurisdiction and context for such decisions.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna reserved her verdict on Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and interim bail, scheduling a hearing for his regular bail plea on July 29. Kejriwal remains in judicial custody in connection with the corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged scam.
