Judicial Custody of Arvind Kejriwal Extended in Delhi Excise Policy Case

The Rouse Avenue Court has extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until September 3, 2024, in connection with the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the now-scrapped Delhi liquor excise policy for the year 2021-22.

During the hearing, the court reserved its decision on the fourth supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI, which names Kejriwal and five others as accused. The next hearing for this matter is scheduled for September 3.

Kejriwal, who is the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is currently incarcerated at Delhi’s Tihar Jail as he faces investigations related to allegations of corruption and money laundering associated with the excise policy. Both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting these probes.

On August 27, 2024, the CBI revealed to the Rouse Avenue Court that it possesses evidence suggesting that Chief Minister Kejriwal allegedly promised Rs 90 lakh to each candidate across 40 constituencies in Goa. The agency also mentioned financial transactions connected with a group referred to as the South Group.

The CBI has claimed that Durgesh Pathak was responsible for overseeing elections in Goa and that all election expenses were coordinated based on his directions, as he serves as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Delhi. The agency asserts that there are indications of funds received from the South Group.

Additionally, the CBI filed a request for a 14-day extension of Kejriwal’s judicial custody, citing ongoing investigations. The Supreme Court postponed the hearing of Kejriwal’s bail plea to September 5, after the CBI requested time to submit an affidavit.

Kejriwal has submitted two petitions: one contesting the denial of his bail and another disputing his arrest. The CBI, in its affidavit, alleged that significant decisions related to the discontinued excise policy were made at Kejriwal’s behest, in collaboration with former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

The AAP has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the CBI of conspiring to keep Arvind Kejriwal incarcerated. In a statement made on X (formerly Twitter), Manish Sisodia alleged that the CBI is deliberately delaying court proceedings while leaking information to the media to influence public opinion, alleging that the agency is merely acting as a puppet under BJP’s directives.