New Delhi, August 23, 2024 – The Supreme Court of India has postponed the hearing on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s pleas seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged excise policy scam. The court has rescheduled the matter for September 5.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan allowed the CBI to file its counter affidavit and granted Kejriwal two days to file a rejoinder. Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, informed the court that the CBI had filed a counter affidavit in only one of the pleas, which was served late on Thursday evening. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju stated that the CBI would submit the counter affidavit for the remaining plea within a week.
The Supreme Court had previously refused to grant interim bail to Kejriwal on August 14 and sought a response from the CBI regarding his plea challenging his arrest. Kejriwal was detained by the CBI on June 26 as part of the investigation into the alleged irregularities in the excise policy.
Earlier, Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a separate money laundering case. Although he was granted bail by the trial court on June 20, this order was stayed by the Delhi High Court. On July 12, the Supreme Court had granted him interim bail in the money laundering case.
The controversy centers around the excise policy that was implemented in 2022 and subsequently scrapped after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor ordered a CBI probe. The investigation alleges irregularities in the formulation and execution of the policy and claims that undue favors were extended to license holders.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the allegations and the involvement of key political figures. The Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing on September 5 will be crucial in determining the legal course of action for Kejriwal in this ongoing case.
