Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Arrested in Liquor Policy Case
On Wednesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the liquor policy case. The arrest came after the Rouse Avenue Court granted permission to the agency to interrogate the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in court.
Remand and Subsequent Developments
Kejriwal was remanded into CBI custody for three days. He is scheduled to appear before the court again on June 29th at 7 pm.
Following his arrest, Kejriwal withdrew a petition he had filed with the Supreme Court challenging an order by the Delhi High Court that had stayed his bail in a separate money laundering case.
CBI's Argument for Custody
During the hearing in the trial court, the CBI argued that Kejriwal's custody was crucial to confront him with relevant documents and to ascertain his level of involvement in the alleged liquor policy scam. The agency claimed that Kejriwal had shifted the blame to former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia, maintaining that Sisodia had initiated the privatization proposal.
Allegations Against Kejriwal
The CBI further alleged that Kejriwal had stated that Vijay Nair, the former communications head of the AAP and an accused in the case, had worked under Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj.
The Chief Minister didn't take any ministry but has his hand in everything, the CBI lawyer argued.
Defense Counsel's Objections
Kejriwal's lawyer, Vikram Chaudhari, opposed the CBI's request for custody, arguing that he had not been informed about the agency's application to the court and its subsequent approval to question Kejriwal.
The manner in which this has been done is of grave concern. Please allow us access to the documents and defer this hearing to tomorrow... Heavens will not fall if we file a reply, Kejriwal's counsel implored.
CBI's Response
The CBI, represented by senior advocate DP Singh, maintained that investigations were within the agency's purview and that the law did not require informing the accused beforehand.
The law does not say that I have to tell them when I want to go and investigate him. The same thing happened in the case of K Kavitha. I only need the court's permission, the CBI asserted.
Defense Counsel's Counterargument
Kejriwal's lawyer contended that no Section 41 notice under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) had been issued to Kejriwal, summoning him for questioning.
If My lords allow them to arrest him (Kejriwal), my lords will be allowing their shoulders to be used as a gun to shoot him. If My lords give them the permission to arrest, my lords will effectively be sanctifying the remand, he emphasized.
