Delhi HC issues notice in Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by CBI in excise policy case

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and remand by the central probe agency in the Delhi excise policy case.

A bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued a notice to the CBI and asked it to file its reply within seven days. The court listed the matter for arguments on July 17.

“Issue notice. Notice on behalf of the CBI is accepted. Detailed reply be filed within 7 days. Rejoinder if any be filed within 2 days," the High Court said.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Arvind Kejriwal, argued that there was no necessity or need to arrest the Delhi Chief Minister.

In his plea, Arvind Kejriwal sought directions to release him from custody and to quash the entire CBI proceedings against him. He argued that his arrest was in clear violation of the statutory mandate prescribed under Sections 41 and 60A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Singhvi pointed out that Arvind Kejriwal was already under judicial custody in the ED case, and hence, there could be no fear of him tampering with evidence or witnesses or posing any danger or flight risk.

The CBI arrested Kejriwal on June 26 from Tihar Jail while he was in judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Delhi chief minister was remanded to CBI custody till June 29.

On June 29, Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody until July 12 after the CBI did not seek an extension of his custody.

In addition to his arrest, the AAP national convener has also challenged the trial court's June 26 and June 29 orders, by which he was remanded to three-day CBI custody until June 29 and judicial custody until July 12, respectively.