Arvind Kejriwal moves Delhi High Court challenging arrest by CBI in Delhi Excise Policy Case

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the trial court's decision to grant the central agency his custody in a corruption case linked to the discontinued Delhi Excise Policy of 2021-22.

Kejriwal is also disputing the trial court's decision that his arrest was lawful.

The CBI detained Kejriwal on June 26 while he was already in judicial custody for a money laundering case initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He had recently been granted bail by the trial court in the ED case on June 20. However, the Delhi High Court imposed an interim stay on the bail order the following day after the ED filed an urgent plea. This stay was upheld by the Delhi High Court on June 25.

Subsequently, Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 and placed in CBI custody until June 29. On June 29, he was returned to judicial custody until July 12 as the CBI did not request an extension of his custody.

Kejriwal was initially arrested by the ED on March 21, 2024. He is accused of being a primary conspirator in a scheme to deliberately create loopholes in the liquor policy to benefit specific liquor vendors. The ED claims that the kickbacks from these loopholes were used by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to finance its electoral campaign in Goa.

Both the CBI and ED cases against Kejriwal originated from a complaint filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.