Delhi liquor scandal: SC to hear CM Kejriwal’s bail plea on Thursday, challenging CBI arrest | MorungExpress

New Delhi, September 4 (IANS): On Thursday, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petitions seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged liquor scandal.

According to the case list published on the Supreme Court website, a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan will resume hearing the case on September 5.

In his special dispensation petition filed in the Supreme Court, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has challenged his arrest and the subsequent remand orders while also seeking bail in the corruption case. The CBI, however, seeking dismissal of Kejriwal’s petition, said that the AAP chief was merely trying to create political drama in the matter despite repeated orders of various courts being prima facie satisfied with the commission of the offences for which cognizance was already taken.

The central probe agency said that while Kejriwal “does not hold any ministerial post in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, all decisions of the government and the party are taken with his consent and on his instructions,” adding that this applies not only to decisions in Delhi but across the country where the AAP has its presence.

“Over time, it emerged that all the important decisions in the formulation of the new excise policy were taken at the behest of the complainant (Kejriwal), in collusion with the then Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister Manish Sisodia. During the course of investigation, it became clear that he had played a pivotal role in the formulation of the new excise policy,” the CBI said in its affidavit before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court on July 12 ordered the interim release of CM Kejriwal in connection with the money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, he could not leave the jail as he was arrested by the CBI.

Meanwhile, a court here on Tuesday took cognizance of the CBI chargesheet against CM Kejriwal and other accused in the alleged liquor scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja issued a summons order for CM Kejriwal on September 11 and extended his custody till the same date in connection with the corruption case. Recently, the Supreme Court admitted bail pleas of senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia, BRS leader K. Kavitha and former AAP Communications Officer Vijay Nair in the criminal tax case.