Supreme Court to CBI while reserving judgement on Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea: Don't say grant of bail will demoralise High Court

The Supreme Court in the case Arvind Kejriwal v.Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI observed and has reserved the judgement wherein the petition is filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest and seeking bail in the case registered by the CBI over the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy scam.

The bench comprising of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing the matter the whole day on September 05, 2024. In the present case, Kejriwal filed the petition challenging the Delhi High Court order dated August 05 wherein his petition against the CBI arrest was dismissed by a Single Judge bench with liberty to approach the trial Court for bail.

Kejriwal also filed another Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court's refusal to consider his bail plea.

On June 26, 2024, the Aam Admi Party, AAP chief was formally arrested by CBI, he being in custody of the Enforcement Directorate, ED in the money laundering case arising out of the alleged liquor policy scam.

On July 12, 2024, the Supreme Court in the case granted interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case, while referring his petition challenging ED arrest to a larger bench.

Kejriwal continued to remain in custody (which commenced on March 21) due to his arrest by the CBI. The counsel, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation, submitted that the grant of bail would amount to demoralizing the High Court. The bench of Justice Bhuyan expressed disagreement with this submission and said, "Don't say that".

KEJRIWAL'S ARGUMENTS