New Delhi. Delhi High Court has rejected the bail plea of Arvind Kejriwal. The High Court said that his control and influence on the witnesses is prima facie evident from the fact that many people gathered courage to become witnesses only after the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi High Court has rightly rejected the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the corruption case related to the liquor scam.
The Delhi High Court said that it is established that the collection of evidence against the petitioner stopped after collecting the necessary evidence after his arrest. Justice Nina Bansal Krishna has said in a 48-page verdict that no malice can be found in the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. The High Court had said in its verdict that this web of ‘crime’ extends to Punjab, but important witnesses did not come forward due to the influence exerted by Kejriwal using his position.
Singhvi’s arrest plea
Kejriwal’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi had argued that the FIR was registered by the CBI in August 2022 and the investigation went on for two years. At the time of arrest, there was no new evidence or basis that could justify his arrest in June this year. Singhvi had said that his client was ‘insurance arrested’ by the CBI to prevent his release from jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the money laundering case registered by the ED.
What did the High Court say on Singhvi’s argument?
However, Justice Krishna said that respecting his position as the Chief Minister, the police acted with ‘suspicion and caution’ and started collecting evidence from other suspected accused. As a result, an extensive investigation was conducted across India to unearth the entire web of conspiracy involving several persons. Therefore, the reasons for not taking immediate action against the petitioner after the FIR was lodged have been well explained by the CBI. He said that the argument that there was no opportunity to arrest him is not valid.
Kejriwal’s lawyer Singhvi had argued that no permission was taken from the trial court to interrogate the accused in jail. The High Court took note of the CBI’s arguments that Kejriwal’s custodial interrogation was required to confront him with evidence to unearth the larger conspiracy hatched among the accused/suspects regarding the formulation and implementation of the excise policy and to trace the ill-gotten money. Meanwhile, in a separate order, the High Court allowed Kejriwal to file a petition in the lower court for bail in the CBI case.
Tags: Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi liquor scam
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 6, 2024, 18:46 IST
