CBI Arrests Arvind Kejriwal As He Awaits Supreme Court's Order On His Bail

As Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s bail order by the lower court hangs in the air, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested the AAP leader. After examining and recording his statement from Tihar jail, the central agency had produced the chief minister to the Rouse Avenue Court in connection with the excise policy scam earlier today.

With the Delhi High Court on Tuesday maintaining its stance to stay the bail order of Kejriwal and the Supreme Court set to hear his plea challenging the High Court’s stay, the CBI’s arrest further diminishes the bail prospects of the chief minister.

Read Also: No Relief For Arvind Kejriwal As Delhi High Court Upholds Interim Stay On Bail in Liquor Policy Case

Notably, the CBI took the AAP leader to the trial court the day top court scheduled to hear his petition against the High Court’s stay of his June 20 bail order by the lower court.

It is also reported that even if the Supreme Court grants bail, the chief minister will not be able to walk out of jail due to the CBI’s move.

Reacting to the development, the AAP leaders alleged that the Union government and the probe agency are conspiring to register a fake case ahead of the Supreme Court hearing today. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh stated that the government’s alleged actions were anticipating the possibility that the Supreme Court might grant bail to the chief minister. He also said that the entire country is watching the developments and stands in solidarity with Kejriwal.

Read Also: No Immediate Relief For Arvind Kejriwal; SC Opts To Wait For High Court Order

Notably, countering the AAP leader’s claim of “conspiracy,” Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva said that the CBI is currently working on a case lodged by the Congress, adding that the AAP should ask Rahul Gandhi why they did not withdraw their complaint when they allied the elections.

Kejriwal was granted bail by the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on June 20, and the Delhi High Court on June 21 stayed the bail order after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the court. The chief minister then moved to the Supreme Court against the High Court’s stay, which is set to hear today.

The AAP leader was arrested on March 21 by the ED in the money laundering case in connection with the now-scrapped Delhi government’s excise policy.