Arvind Kejriwal moves Supreme Court over Delhi HC order refusing to quash CBI case: Report

Jailed Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, on Monday, moved the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order, which refused to quash his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.

The petition's been filed through advocate Vivek Jain, reported Bar and Bench.

According to the report, the Delhi High Court refused to quash Kejriwal's arrest by the central agency on August 5, 2024. The Delhi CM has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, two days after the Supreme Court granted bail to former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy cases probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Arvind Kejriwal's arrest

The CBI arrested Arvind Kejriwal on June 26 while he was under judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Although the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the money laundering case, Kejriwal remained in jail as he had yet to get bail in the CBI case.

Kejriwal had filed two separate petitions before the High Court - one seeking bail and another challenging his arrest by the CBI.

Arrest plea rejected

The Delhi High Court had rejected Kejriwal's plea to quash the arrest on August 5, with Justice Neena Bansal Krishna saying there were adequate grounds to arrest him. 

Kejriwal had approached the High Court directly for bail. The High Court, while upholding his arrest, had asked Kejriwal to move the trial court first to seek regular bail.

SC grants bail to Manish Sisodia

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court recently granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, in connection with the same case.

According to a report by the Bar and Bench, the Court allowed the plea after noting that the prolonged delay in Sisodia's trial violated his “right to speedy trial,” which comes under Article 21 of the constitution, which ensures Protection of Life and Personal Liberty.

The apex court further noted that high courts and trial courts appeared to be “playing it safe” when they routinely denied bail in criminal cases instead of the norm of granting bail.