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The ongoing legal battle surrounding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case took a dramatic turn on Thursday as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presented a controversial argument before the Supreme Court. The CBI, opposing Kejriwal's bail plea and challenging his arrest, claimed that granting him bail would demoralize the Delhi High Court. This assertion, made by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, sparked immediate objections from the bench, with Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stating, 'Do not say all that. Do not say that. It cannot be a submission of any lawyer.'
The High Court's earlier refusal to grant Kejriwal relief in the matter formed the basis for Raju's argument. He asserted that the High Court's decision had not been considered on merit, and therefore, the Supreme Court should consider this crucial aspect. He further argued that Kejriwal's request for bail without submitting a copy of the chargesheet, which details his role in the case, was unacceptable. The chargesheet, according to Raju, provides a detailed account of Kejriwal's involvement and cannot be overlooked.
Kejriwal's arrest by the CBI on June 26 followed shortly after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case, also related to the Delhi liquor policy. In an unusual move, Kejriwal bypassed the trial court and directly approached the High Court for bail, seeking to have his CBI arrest quashed. While the High Court upheld his CBI arrest, it refrained from addressing his bail plea, instead directing him to first seek relief from the trial court. This prompted Kejriwal to approach the Supreme Court seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the CBI.
The Supreme Court, after hearing arguments from both sides, reserved its verdict in the matter on Thursday. The case is scheduled to be heard again on Tuesday. This legal battle remains a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the Delhi liquor policy, with its outcome having potential implications for both the Delhi government and the CBI's investigation.
Source: Bail to Arvind Kejriwal will demoralise Delhi High Court: CBI argument in Supreme Court