CBI arrests Kejriwal in excise policy case

| Updated: 26 June, 2024 12:51 pm IST

New Delhi: In the latest update regarding the Delhi Excise Policy Scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after presenting the letter before the Rouse Avenue Court.

Previously, in the same case, Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested similarly. Sisodia was questioned in Tihar jail and subsequently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 9, 2023. Like Kejriwal, Sisodia was also scheduled for a bail hearing on March 10 in the CBI case when he was arrested.

Kejriwal had initially been granted bail by a vacation judge, but the Delhi High Court later put a stay on it. Kejriwal’s counsel then moved to the Supreme Court against the stay. Today, the Supreme Court was set to hear arguments on this matter when Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI.

ALSO READ: Kejriwal sticks to position, skips questioning in Delhi Excise Policy probe – THE NEW INDIAN

On Tuesday, a team of CBI officials went to Tihar Jail and questioned Kejriwal regarding the case. This morning, Kejriwal was produced before the court on a production warrant, where the CBI placed him under arrest.

During the court proceedings, Kejriwal’s counsel opposed the CBI’s move, arguing that not a single notice under Section 41-A was sent for interrogation, and suddenly there was a production warrant.

The CBI responded, “When we have not made an arrest formally, why is the defence being heard so extensively?”

ALSO READ: Delhi HC urgently allows hearing of ED’s plea on Kejriwal’s bail – THE NEW INDIAN 

The judge agreed with the defence that the CBI needed to justify its actions but noted, “This can only be done after the arrest. Someone in judicial custody cannot be arrested straight away.”

The judge further explained, “In judicial custody, the CBI had moved an application for examination on June 24, from where it was felt that the accused needed to be arrested, and thereby the production warrant was issued so that a formal arrest could be made.”

Following this, the CBI requested that media persons leave the courtroom so they could examine Kejriwal.

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