Delhi Excise Policy Case: Court extends CM Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody till September 3

Delhi Excise Policy Case: A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam till September 3.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended Arvind Kejriwal's custody after he was produced before the court through video conference on expiry of the judicial custody granted earlier.

The court is currently hearing arguments on whether to take cognizance of a supplementary charge sheet filed against Arvind Kejriwal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Meanwhile, in a relief to BRS leader K Kavitha, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted her bail in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan noted that Kavitha had been in custody for around five months and the probe against her by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was complete in these cases.

"As such, custody of the appellant (Kavitha) is not necessary for the purpose of investigation," the bench said.

It set aside a July 1 order of the Delhi High Court which denied bail to the BRS leader in the two cases.

The high court had dismissed Kavitha's bail pleas, saying she was prima facie one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy related to the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

The ED had arrested Kavitha (46) from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15 and the CBI had arrested her from Tihar jail on April 11.

Kavitha has denied all allegations.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court bench had questioned the fairness of the probe agencies in investigating these cases and rapped them for "pick and choose".

With AAP's Manish Sisodia and BRS MLC K Kavitha being granted bail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal remains the only high-profile lawmaker incriminated for money laundering in now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy ‘scam’ case.