Delhi court takes cognisance of CBI charge sheet against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: A court here on Tuesday took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other accused in the alleged liquor policy scam.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja issued a production warrant for CM Kejriwal on September 11, apart from extending his custody till the same date in connection with the corruption case.

On July 29, the CBI had filed its supplementary charge sheet before the Rouse Avenue Court against the Delhi CM and other accused persons in the excise policy case. The Supreme Court is slated to hear, on September 5, Kejriwal’s pleas seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the CBI. In his special leave petition filed before the apex court, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor has challenged his arrest and subsequent remand orders, while also pressing for bail in the corruption case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had already filed its prosecution complaint in connection with the money laundering case, naming Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its national convenor Kejriwal as accused.

The Supreme Court, on July 12, ordered CM Kejriwal to be released on interim bail in connection with the ED case. However, he was not able to walk out of jail since he was arrested by the CBI. On Monday, the top court allowed a plea filed by former AAP communications in charge Vijay Nair, seeking bail, in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

On August 5, the Delhi High Court upheld the arrest of the Chief Minister as "legal." It had dismissed Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest, saying it was only after sufficient evidence was collected and sanction was obtained in April 2024 that the CBI proceeded with further probes against him.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, 2024, in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

On June 26, 2024, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief was arrested by the CBI while he was in custody of the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi excise policy case.

Recently, the SC also granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and BRS leader K Kavitha in the liquor policy scam.

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