The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi extended the jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody till August 8 in CBI's case against him the alleged Delhi Liquor policy scam.
The Delhi High Court on July 17 had reserved verdict on the legality of arrest of jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the CBI and his prayer for interim bail. The court has fixed July 29 for hearing arguments on regular bail for the Arvind Kejriwal in the CBI case in the Delhi Liquor Police matter.
Kejriwal was produced before the trial court via video conferencing from Tihar jail after his custody expired today, ANI reported.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the AAP chief said that Kejriwal's arrest by CBI was an "afterthought insurance arrest."
Singhvi told the high court that after Kejriwal secured three release orders in the Enforcement Directorate case, they anticipated that sooner or later he would walk out. To make sure he stays behind bars the CBI arrested Kejriwal to ensure he stays behind bars.
"CBI didn't intend to and did not have any material to arrest. This is an arrest in the sake of form that if he comes out, it is an additional insurance arrest. I have three release orders in my favour." Singhvi said while referring to two interim bails by Supreme Court and one regular bail granted to Kejriwal by a trial court in the ED case.
CBI defended the arrest but did not argue on regular bail. The counsel appearing for CBI defended the arrest by saying that the central agency can arrest on basis of suspicion which is a different threshold as compared to Kejriwal's arrest under PMLA Section 19.
After concluding arguments, the court said that it will reserve the verdict on CBI arrest and interim bail. CBI is yet to make arguments on regular bail, for which the court has fixed date for July 29.