CBI Seeks Arvind Kejriwal’s Custody to Investigate Alleged Excise Policy Conspiracy

Delhi CM Denies Blaming Manish Sisodia Amidst Ongoing Investigation

In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought the custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asserting the need to question him to uncover a “larger conspiracy” related to the alleged excise policy case. Kejriwal, appearing in court on Wednesday, firmly denied making any statements implicating his colleague Manish Sisodia.

Kejriwal’s Courtroom Denial

“I have never given any statement saying that Manish Sisodia is guilty. I have given a statement that Aam Aadmi Party, Manish Sisodia, and I (Kejriwal) are not guilty,” Kejriwal told the court after being arrested by the CBI. He accused the agency of attempting to defame him and his party, stating, “CBI’s motive is to defame us. I have never issued any such statement. They are sensationalising the issue. CBI’s idea is to give sensational headlines to the media that Kejriwal shifted the entire blame on Manish Sisodia.”

CBI’s Argument for Custodial Interrogation

The CBI argued that Kejriwal’s custodial interrogation was necessary as he was not acknowledging that “Vijay Nair was working under him.” DP Singh, the special public prosecutor for the CBI, told the court, “Kejriwal had said that Nair was working with Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi Marlena, and the CM is pushing the entire onus on Manish Sisodia, saying that he has no idea about the excise policy.”

Allegations and Evidence

In its application for Kejriwal’s custody, the CBI emphasized the need to confront him with evidence and other accused individuals to unravel the larger conspiracy. The agency claimed to have traced a ₹44 crore trail to Goa through hawala channels, with evidence suggesting that Chanpreet Singh used the proceeds of crime to pay for Kejriwal’s stay in Goa.

Defense’s Response

Kejriwal’s counsel, Vikram Chaudhari, criticized the remand application as “totally vague” and accused the CBI of abusing its power. “It’s a classic case of abuse of power. The principles of Arnesh Kumar and Satinder Kumar Antil are required to be applied in ‘letter and spirit’ in this case,” he argued. Chaudhari also pointed out that despite Kejriwal’s name appearing in almost every charge sheet, the CBI maintained an “eerie silence” on its specifics.

Ongoing Legal Battle

As the legal proceedings continue, the case remains a contentious issue, with Kejriwal and his party members steadfastly denying any wrongdoing while the CBI pursues its investigation into the alleged excise policy conspiracy.

For live updates on Arvind Kejriwal’s bail hearing and further developments, stay tuned.


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Editor’s Note: The case is ongoing, and the court’s decisions will significantly impact the political landscape of Delhi.

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