Update: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday withdrew his plea from the Supreme Court, which challenged the Delhi High Courts June 21 order imposing an interim stay on the bail granted to him by the trial court in the excise policy case. He announced his intention to file a new petition challenging the high courts final order, passed on Tuesday, which confirmed the stay.BreakingNews : केजरीवाल ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट से याचिका ली वापस #ArvindKejriwal #SupremeCourt #CBI #IndiaDailyLive pic.twitter.com/7YBV98SvvG— India Daily Live (@IndiaDLive) June 26, 2024The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) interrogated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, recording his statements concerning the ongoing excise policy case. The agency has obtained permission to present Kejriwal before the trial court, scheduled for Wednesday, June 26. According to sources, Kejriwal was questioned for approximately one-and-a-half hours but has not been arrested at this time.Allegations of ConspiracySenior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh accused the central government and the CBI of conspiring against Kejriwal. Singh claimed, There is every possibility of Arvind Kejriwal getting bail from the Supreme Court. Before this, the BJP government at the Center has conspired with the CBI to prepare a false case against Kejriwal ji and arrest him. The whole country is watching the atrocities and injustices of BJP and the central government. The whole country stands with Arvind Kejriwal against the atrocities of the BJP and will together raise its voice against injustice, Singh stated in a video message on X.BJP की केंद्र सरकार और CBI की @ArvindKejriwal जी के ख़िलाफ़ बड़ी साज़िशअरविंद केजरीवाल जी को सुप्रीम कोर्ट से जमानत मिलने की पूरी संभावना है। इससे पहले केंद्र की BJP सरकार ने CBI के साथ मिलकर केजरीवाल जी के ख़िलाफ़ झूठा मुक़दमा तैयार करके उन्हें गिरफ़्तार करने की साज़िश रची है।… pic.twitter.com/IbaYD249Ew— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 25, 2024High Court Stays Kejriwals BailEarlier in the day, the Delhi High Court stayed the trial court order granting Kejriwal bail in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scandal. The high court observed that the lower court did not appropriately appreciate the material presented by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Justice Sudhir Kumar Jains vacation bench emphasised that the EDs arguments against the bail order required serious consideration. The Vacation (trial) Judge, while passing the Impugned order, did not appropriately appreciate the material/documents submitted on record and pleas taken by ED and the averments/grounds as raised in the petition under section 439(2) of the Code require serious consideration, the court stated.Trial Courts Bail DecisionOn June 20, the Rouse Avenue Court granted Kejriwal bail, ordering his release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The ED challenged this decision the next day, arguing that the trial courts order was perverse, one-sided, and passed without adequate opportunity for the ED to present its case. In a 34-page order, Justice Jain underscored the importance of courts providing sufficient opportunity for all parties to present their cases, emphasising that the ED should have been allowed to argue its position regarding Kejriwals bail application.Background of the Excise Policy CaseThe case revolves around allegations of corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi governments now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. It is alleged that the policy, which granted licenses to liquor traders, facilitated cartelization and favoured certain dealers who allegedly paid bribes. The AAP has consistently denied these allegations. Following the policys withdrawal, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI investigation, leading to the ED registering a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
