Delhi HC Issues Notice To CBI Over Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest, Next Hearing on July 17

A bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna heard the case and asked Kejriwal's counsel if they have applied for bail yet.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal told the court that though they are entitled to file a bail plea, they have not done it yet.

Source : PTI Images

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over arrest and subsequent remand of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection to the Delhi Liquor Policy case. The court has granted seven days to CBI to file reply. Next date of hearing is July 17.

A bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna heard the case and asked Kejriwal's counsel if they have applied for bail yet.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal told the court that though they are entitled to file a bail plea, they have not done it yet. It may be recalled, that after the trial court granted bail to Kejriwal, another bench of Delhi High Court had stayed his release and orderd for re-hearing by a raoster bench.

Challenging the CBI arrect, Singhvi questioned the necessity for arrest.

"No question of CBI arresting me in June 2024 because CBI FIR is of August 2022. He is then summoned in April 2023 and questioned for nine hours. From that till now, nothing is done." Singhvi argues in court.

Singhvi asked how CBI can arrest Kejriwal in June 2024, on an FIR lodged in 2022, where he was only questioned in April 2023. "There cannot be urgency or necessity of arrest." He said.

Last week, a Delhi Court while upholding that the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the CBI in the liquor policy case, observed that his arrest was not illegal. However, the court said that the CBI should not be "over zealous". 

Vacation judge Amitabh Rawat of Rouse Avenue Courts upheld CBI's arrest and said that investigation is the prerogative of the investigating agency.

"There are certain safeguards provided in the law and at this stage, on the material on record, it cannot be said that the arrest is illegal. The agency, however, should not be over zealous," the judge remarked. However, he clarified that the custody has been granted for only three days and Arvind Kejriwal should be produced on June 29, before 07 PM," the court said while upholding his arrest. 

Now, the Delhi High Court will hear challenge against this order of the trial court on July 17.