In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday denied interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a corruption case tied to the now-cancelled Delhi liquor policy.
The court has requested a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding Kejriwal’s bail application, setting the next hearing for August 23.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Arvind Kejriwal, described the situation as “strange.” He noted that Kejriwal had previously been granted interim bail in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case on May 10.
“He then got interim bail from the Supreme Court in July. He was granted bail in a CBI case by the lower court. In this way, three bail orders were given,” Singhvi argued, calling the AAP leader’s detention an “insurance arrest.”
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Singhvi further argued that Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI, nearly two years after the case was initiated, lacked legal merit and was motivated by malice. “We have filed for interim bail. He will easily pass the triple test,” the senior lawyer asserted.
However, the Supreme Court remained firm in its decision, declining to provide interim relief. “Don’t say interim bail, we will not give interim bail,” the bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, stated.
This legal battle follows the Delhi High Court’s ruling on August 5, which upheld the Chief Minister’s arrest. The court found no evidence of malice in the CBI’s actions and acknowledged the agency’s claims that Arvind Kejriwal could potentially influence witnesses.
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The Delhi Liquor Policy, introduced in November 2021, was withdrawn less than a year later, amid accusations of corruption. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered a CBI investigation into the policy, leading to allegations that AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, engaged in irregularities and provided undue favors to license holders.
In addition to Arvind Kejriwal, senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have also faced arrests in connection with the liquor policy scandal. Both are currently out on bail. The Aam Aadmi Party has consistently denied the corruption allegations, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of political vendetta.
