The Delhi High Court has intervened in the legal battle involving Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition against his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court has sought the CBI’s response and scheduled the matter for hearing on July 17, marking a pivotal development in the ongoing judicial proceedings.
Arvind Kejriwal’s legal representative, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued vehemently before the court, contesting the necessity of Kejriwal’s arrest in connection with an FIR dating back to August 2022. Singhvi highlighted that Kejriwal had already been summoned and questioned extensively by the CBI since April 2023, questioning the sudden arrest after a prolonged period of inactivity on the case.
“The arrest memo must justify its basis, typically reserved for cases involving terrorism or flight risks,” Singhvi asserted, criticizing the brevity and lack of substantive justification in the arrest documentation presented by the CBI.
Responding to the arguments, the bench presided by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued a notice to the CBI, directing the agency to file a detailed response within seven days. The court also allowed for a potential rejoinder by Kejriwal’s legal team within two days thereafter, underscoring the seriousness with which the matter is being considered.
Arvind Kejriwal’s recent legal troubles began when he was arrested by the CBI on June 26, following authorization by a Delhi court to examine him in the courtroom. Prior to this, he had been under judicial custody in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the Delhi excise policy case, having been initially arrested on March 21. Despite a temporary release during the Lok Sabha elections in May, Kejriwal returned to judicial custody in June.
While a Delhi court had granted him bail in the excise policy case last month, the Delhi High Court subsequently stayed this decision. On June 29, another city court remanded Kejriwal to 14 days of judicial custody, prolonging the legal saga surrounding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader.
Sources By Agencies
