In the Delhi liquor scam case, CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI before he could appear in the Supreme Court. After his appearance in the Rouse Avenue Court, the CBI had sought Kejriwal’s judicial custody. After getting the approval from the court, Kejriwal, who reached the court for the hearing from Tihar Jail, was arrested by the CBI. After this, Kejriwal’s health deteriorated in the court room itself, his sugar level dropped. After his health improved, the court hearing began again. Now the decision will come after 4 pm.
Cross-examination took place regarding Manish Sisodia
The CBI lawyer told the court that Kejriwal himself had earlier said that the new policy was Sisodia’s idea. After seeing the statement, the court commented that Kejriwal’s statement is not what the government lawyer is saying. The CBI lawyer said that if we read that statement, they will get into trouble.
Kejriwal said that their aim is to get a front page headline tomorrow that Kejriwal blamed Sisodia for everything. CBI sources were asked to do it last night… all their allegations are false. CBI advocate DP Singh said that the media is present in the court, they will tell.
Arvind Kejriwal told the court that it is being said in some sections of the media that I have put the entire blame on Manish Sisodia, this is being said quoting CBI sources. This is absolutely wrong. I never said this. Manish Sisodia, I and the Aam Aadmi Party are completely innocent. Please take this on record.
Know what happened in the court room today
Kejriwal’s lawyer Vikram Choudhary: The manner in which CBI has made the arrest…is a matter of concern and against Article 21 of the Constitution.
Vikram Choudhary: If we accept the statement of the investigating agency, then it will be considered as cooperation in the investigation.. what kind of argument is this of CBI?
Vikram Chaudhary- CBI has filed four charge sheets. Now they are arresting Kejriwal and still have to identify some people through these? Is this a valid reason for arrest?
Vikram Chaudhary- First of all, the court will have to see whether the arrest was necessary. Along with this, it will also have to see whether remand is needed. In this case, the Supreme Court has given guidelines in the judgment of Arnesh Kumar and Antil.
Vikram Chaudhary- CBI’s FIR is dated 17 August 2022. After this, Kejriwal was called as a witness on 16 April 2023. From that day till Monday 24 June, he was never called for questioning. The first chargesheet was filed in November 2022, this chargesheet had 7 accused and 7600 pages of documents.
Vikram Chaudhary- CBI filed the second chargesheet in April 2023. So far 4 chargesheets have been filed. Kejriwal is not even mentioned in any of these. The material that is before the court today is in some way or the other a part of these chargesheets.
CBI filed the last chargesheet on June 8. Magunta Reddy has confessed to paying bribe, so they have declared him a witness. Magunta Reddy’s son was an accused in the PMLA case and later became a government witness. Now he has become a government witness in this case (CBI case) too.
Magunta Reddy has joined the NDA faction of the current ruling party (BJP) on 29 February 2024 and all his sins are washed away. This is a unique case of misuse of power.
Vikram Chaudhary- CBI wants me to remain in custody. Are these independent agencies or are they playing cards to please people? What I am saying is that if this man was really guilty and should have been arrested, then why did they not arrest him?
Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer protested against the arrest. He said that the gun is being fired by keeping it on the shoulder of the court.
What did the CBI say
CBI: Kejriwal was in judicial custody. That is why we did not arrest Kejriwal till now.
The court upheld that the CBI would have to justify the arrest.
CBI: We should be allowed to take Kejriwal into custody and question him. We will prepare the grounds for arrest after this.
After questioning Kejriwal, CBI will tell the court the grounds of arrest and after that the order will be passed.
CBI: LG office had asked for a cabinet meeting on liquor policy which did not happen.
CBI: We have money trail, enough evidence…policy changes were made at the behest of South Group.
CBI: 100 crores were given as advance by South Group at the same time so that the profit margin was increased from 6 to 12.
The court asked the CBI lawyer why the arrest was made just now.
CBI- Earlier, Kejriwal was on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court had granted him interim bail for election campaign. If he was arrested in the meantime, it would send a wrong message. We do not want to lower the dignity of the Supreme Court.
CBI- We need custodial interrogation of Kejriwal… He is not even telling that Vijay Nair was working under him. He says he was working under Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj. He put the entire blame on Manish Sisodia and said he has no idea about the excise policy.
CBI- When we questioned Kejriwal in jail, he was not cooperating so we had to arrest him. When we asked him if he went to Goa and who paid for his stay, he said he did not remember.
CBI- Kejriwal’s stay expenses in Goa were paid through hawala.
CBI seeks 5-day custody of Kejriwal.
Order reserved in the hearing of the case after Kejriwal’s arrest in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, now the verdict will be announced at 4:30 pm.
