No interim bail for Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi Excise Policy case

The Supreme Court Wednesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the agency in the Delhi Excise scandal. The Delhi chief minister has also sought quashing of his arrest by the agency.

A division bench headed by Justice Surya Kant refused to grant any interim relief to Kejriwal. The bench however, at the request of Kejriwal's counsel, posted the matter for resumed hearing on August 23.

Dismissing Kejriwal's plea on August 5, the Delhi High Court had ruled that it cannot be said that the arrest of Kejriwal by CBI was without justifiable reason. However, the court granted the Delhi chief minister the liberty to approach the trial court for appropriate relief and bail.


Kejriwal had petitioned the Delhi High Court seeking directions to release him from custody and to quash the CBI proceedings against him. Kejriwal had also challenged the trial court observation that his arrest by the CBI was not illegal.

The agency arrested Kejriwal on June 26. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the same case on March 21. He was in judicial custody at Tihar jail when CBI arrested him for questioning.