CBI Arrests Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi Excise Policy Case

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday, June 26, formally arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The CBI counsel confirmed Republic Media Network that the agency, Kejriwal is currently being informed about the grounds of arrest in the courtroom.

The arrest by the CBI was made after Special Judge Amitabh Rawat passed the order.

This application was moved by the central probe agency after the chief minister of the national capital and AAP convener was produced before the court from Tihar central jail on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the apex court allowed Kejriwal to withdraw his plea against the Delhi High Court's interim stay on bail order and granted him the liberty to file a substantial appeal.

Kejriwal was arrested in connection with the excise scam money laundering case probed by the ED.

What is the Delhi Excise Policy Case?

The liquor scam in which the Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal has been arrested pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-2022.

This case arose after the then Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar submitted a report to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena in July 2022, highlighting the alleged procedural lapses in the formulation of the liquor policy. The report also submitted to CBI said 'arbitrary and unilateral decisions' taken by former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia as Excise Minister resulted in 'financial losses to the exchequer' worth over Rs 580 crore.

This report submitted to the crime branch led to Sisiodia's arrest and named him and 14 others including AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair in the FIR.

Meanwhile, the ED alleged AAP leaders received kickbacks with Rs 100 crore in the policy, with Kejriwal's name being mentioned multiple times.

(Inputs from PTI)