No Bail in Liquor Policy Case, Arvind Kejriwal Sent to 3-Day CBI Custody by Delhi Court

Arvind Kejriwal has been sent to the custody of the CBI for three days, following his arrest by the federal agency in the alleged liquor policy case. The agency had asked for custody for five days.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI -- inside Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court - and then, inside a tumultuous hour, withdrew a Supreme Court petition challenging a stay on grant of bail after his arrest in March - in the same case - by the Enforcement Directorate.

The top court petition was withdrawn - the ED offered no objection - citing a desire to launch a more substantial appeal against the High Court's decision to stay the Rouse Avenue Court's bail order.

In the Rouse Avenue Court this morning, Kejriwal's lawyers argued that the agency's move to arrest the AAP boss at this point showed it had acted "in a most biased manner". The reference was to the fact the CBI had already quizzed him in connection with this case -- for nine hours in April last year.

Kejriwal had then been questioned as a witness in the case. On Wednesday, he addressed the court directly and recounted what he told the CBI when asked why the liquor policy in question was framed.

Kejriwal's legal team criticised the CBI for moving to arrest him at this point. "It is a poor citizen vs might of the State. This case is pending since August 2022. I was called as a witness... I appeared and, for nine hours, I assisted. Not a single notice (from the CBI) since then. How did they shift from a witness to an accused... it is a long distance to cover," they argued.

Kejriwal also asked for this hearing to be deferred by 24 hours so he could study the CBI's case. Following Kejriwal's arrest in court, his party posted a sharp message on X.

"Today when the BJP felt Delhi's son, Arvind Kejriwal, might get bail from the Supreme Court, they again hatched a conspiracy - to get him arrested by CBI in a fake case. But every conspiracy of the BJP will be answered (and the) truth will win in the end," the party said.

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