The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday identified Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as the “sutradhaar” (facilitator) of the alleged Delhi excise policy case. During a hearing at the Delhi High Court regarding Kejriwal’s plea for regular bail, special public prosecutor DP Singh asserted that Kejriwal’s arrest was a result of substantial material evidence that emerged against him.
The high court, after hearing the arguments, reserved its decision on Kejriwal’s bail plea.
Singh explained that the investigation gained momentum and evidence started to surface only after Kejriwal’s arrest. He highlighted that numerous individuals, including workers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), began cooperating with the probe post-arrest. According to Singh, the arrest of the AAP chief was crucial for the investigation’s progression.
The CBI maintained that they have gathered evidence indicating Kejriwal’s direct involvement in the scam. Singh accused the Chief Minister of hastily obtaining ex-post facto approval from the council of ministers once the scandal became public knowledge. Furthermore, Singh expressed concerns that even after the charge sheet was filed, Kejriwal could potentially influence witnesses directly or indirectly.
In defense, Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that the CBI had not interrogated Kejriwal since his initial police remand. Singhvi contended that the agency lacked direct evidence against Kejriwal and had not recovered any incriminating material from his residence.
Singhvi stressed that the formulation and implementation of the excise policy were collective decisions involving at least 50 bureaucrats, including the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) and nine ministries, rather than solely Kejriwal. He dismissed the CBI’s claims as being based on hearsay, stating, “Today there is no direct evidence. No direct recovery. It’s based on hearsay.”
Singvi further argued that if the CBI’s logic held, the L-G should also be named an accused in the case. However, Singh objected to this assertion, insisting that the L-G had no role in the alleged scam.
The high court’s reserved order on Kejriwal’s bail plea is now awaited as both sides present their contrasting narratives on the Chief Minister’s involvement in the excise policy case.
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