In a shocking growth, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was apprehended by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of laundering cash in connection with the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22. This policy was subsequently reversed after the Lieutenant Governor expressed worries.
Kejriwal was taken into custody inside Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court. Soon after, he withdrew a Supreme Court petition that challenged the stay on his bail granted in March by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the same case. This move aimed to prepare a stronger appeal against the High Court’s decision to pause the bail order.
तानाशाह के हर जुल्म का जवाब इंक़लाब से देंगे????
आज जब BJP को लगा कि दिल्ली के बेटे @ArvindKejriwal को सुप्रीम कोर्ट से जमानत मिल सकती है तो उन्होंने फिर से फ़र्ज़ी केस में CBI से CM केजरीवाल को गिरफ्तार करवाने की साजिश रची।
BJP की हर साजिश का जवाब दिया जाएगा, जीत आखिर में सत्य… pic.twitter.com/teqKwQieh7
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 26, 2024
Kejriwal lawyers condemned the CBI arrest, claiming it was biased. Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari stated that the mayor fully cooperated as a witness throughout a nine-hour questioning meeting last April and has not been contacted by the CBI since. The abrupt transition from observe to accused prompted questions.
Kejriwal asked for a 24-hour delay for examining the CBI case, which was denied. The CBI argued that it had no obligation to notify Kejriwal about the investigation’s findings. The agency highlighted that its primary goal was to obtain court approval for custody rather than notifying another party.
Following Kejriwal arrest, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the party of BJP of attempting to prevent the Supreme Court from granting him bail.
In its final ruling, the High Court criticized the lower court for not fully considering the prosecution’s arguments and the details of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) under which Kejriwal was charged. Consequently, Kejriwal remains in jail following his March arrest by the ED.
Kejriwal had argued in the Supreme Court that his continued detention was unjust, highlighting his clean record and the lack of solid evidence against him. Despite his temporary release for election campaigning, his legal challenges persist.