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The Supreme Court denied Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's request for immediate interim relief as he sought bail in the CBI case related to the alleged liquor policy. A bench led by Justice Surya Kant issued a notice and scheduled the hearing for 23 August.
The bench, consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, heard Kejriwal’s two petitions.
Earlier, on 5 August, the Delhi High Court noted that Kejriwal's arrest was lawful and justified, citing sufficient evidence presented by the CBI to warrant his detention. The court highlighted Kejriwal’s prominence as a Magsaysay Award recipient and the convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party. It also stressed the importance of ensuring that the powers of arrest and remand are not misused or applied arbitrarily.
Kejriwal's lawyer, AM Singhvi, argued that the CBI's arrest was an "insurance arrest" to prevent his release in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case. However, the CBI countered, asserting that Kejriwal's custody was necessary for investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on 21 March and has remained in custody since, except for a brief period from 10 May to 2 June, when he was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court for the Lok Sabha elections.
