Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging his recent arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the excise policy case. Additionally, he contested a Delhi court’s decision on June 26 that remanded him to three-day custody, followed by judicial custody until July 12. The court asserted Kejriwal’s alleged role as a key conspirator in the case.
The CBI had sought 14 days of judicial custody, citing Kejriwal’s alleged lack of cooperation and evasive responses, suggesting he could influence witnesses. Kejriwal, previously arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a related money-laundering investigation on March 21, faced another arrest by the CBI on June 26.
Judge Sunena Sharma justified the judicial custody, citing a complex conspiracy involving numerous individuals linked to the formulation and execution of the excise policy and the handling of illicit funds. The court stressed the necessity of custodial interrogation to confront Kejriwal with additional evidence likely to emerge during the ongoing investigation.
Highlighting discrepancies in Kejriwal’s cooperation during interrogation, the court referred to incriminating evidence suggesting misuse of funds during Goa’s assembly elections from June 2021 to February 2022, including expenses for air travel and accommodation.
Kejriwal and several AAP leaders are accused of receiving ₹100 crore in kickbacks from businessmen and politicians in exchange for shaping a favourable liquor policy, subsequently annulled following allegations of irregularities in liquor license allocations. According to the CBI and ED, a significant portion of these funds was allegedly diverted through hawala channels to finance the party’s electoral campaign in Goa.
