The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, declined to grant interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam. This decision follows a petition challenging the legality of his arrest, which was upheld by the Delhi High Court earlier this month.
Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, comprising the bench, opted to issue a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding Kejriwalโs plea but refused to provide any immediate relief from custody. “We are not granting any interim bail. We will issue notice,” the bench stated during the proceedings, as conveyed by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal.
The case is set for a subsequent hearing on August 23. The Delhi High Court had previously affirmed the arrest of the Chief Minister on August 5, finding no malice in the actions of the CBI. The court highlighted that Kejriwal’s position could potentially influence witnesses, who reportedly felt empowered to testify only following his detention.
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The controversy stems from the formulation and execution of an excise policy which was later scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi lieutenant governor ordered a CBI investigation. The probe unearthed alleged irregularities and undue advantages provided to certain license holders, prompting legal action by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the AAP leader and other implicated officials.
