The High Court rejected Arvind Kejriwal's legal team's insurance arrest argument. (document)
The Supreme Council has directed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to approach the trial court for bail. “The CBI will further investigate the matter only after sufficient evidence is collected and sanction is obtained in April 2024,” the HC said
The Delhi High Court (HC) on Monday said it was only after the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal that witnesses could muster the courage to speak out against him and maintained that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) ) His arrest in an alleged corruption case was linked to the now-cancelled alcohol policy.
“His control and influence over the witnesses is prima facie evidence and it was only after the arrest of the petitioner that these witnesses were able to muster the courage to become witnesses, as highlighted by the learned Special Public Prosecutor,” the bench said. Neena Bansal Krishna made The verdict was 48 pages long.
The Supreme Council also directed the Delhi Chief Minister to approach the trial court for bail.
In its judgment, the court noted that the circle of evidence against Kejriwal had ended after his arrest. “No malice can be seen in the conduct of the accused (CBI),” the court said.
The judge rejected Kejriwal's legal team's argument that it was an “insurance arrest”, noting that it was “not due to a carefully planned strategy” but “only after sufficient evidence was gathered and sanctions were obtained in April 2024” , the CBI conducted further investigation into the matter.
The CBI charged Kejriwal and others at the Louth Avenue Court on July 29.
During the hearing, CBI SPP DP Singh argued that Kejriwal was the 'sutradhar' of the “entire scam” and there was direct evidence of his involvement. He said the trial court had ruled that the arrest was not illegal and the investigating agency had passed the legality stage of the arrest in the lower court.
Singh further pointed out that mere submission of chargesheet will not get the chief minister released on bail. He said even though charges were filed against co-accused Manish Sisodia and Kavitha, their bail was denied.
“There is no order to release him on bail. These are only interim orders. The first is for the election and the other is for the constitutional bench which can extend or overturn the election. The bail period in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case is still ongoing. This is an interim release, subject to Other cases of Constitutional Bench,” Singh said.
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