New Delhi: On Friday, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding a bail plea filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy case. Initially, the high court agreed with the CBI’s argument that Kejriwal should have approached a city court first, but later decided to consider the merits of Kejriwal’s direct appeal during the arguments.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that the AAP leader is not a flight risk or a terrorist, and pointed out that the CBI arrested him after he had secured bail in the ED’s money laundering case. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna acknowledged, “Notice accepted. Petitioner has approached directly before the HC; this contention shall be considered at the time of arguments.”
The court has scheduled further hearings for July 17. Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), remains in judicial custody at Tihar Jail in connection with the ED’s money laundering case.
Kejriwal was previously arrested by the ED on March 21 and granted bail by the trial court on June 20. However, the high court later stayed this order. On Wednesday, the trial court extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody until July 12 in the money laundering case.