CBI arrests Arvind Kejriwal in liquor policy case, Delhi CM drops bail plea in Supreme Court

Kejriwal, who is already under arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case linked to the alleged scam, then withdrew his plea challenging the stay on granting of bail in the Supreme Court.

The senior politician, who heads Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), will file a fresh plea in the Supreme Court.

Kejriwal, who was granted bail by the Rouse Avenue Court, faced a setback after the ED filed a plea challenging his release in the Delhi High Court.

The High Court paused the bail in a setback for Kejriwal, who was arrested by the ED on March 21, 2024.

The ED argued the lower court's grant of bail was "completely flawed". Kejriwal then moved the Supreme Court to overturn the stay order.

Despite acknowledging the High Court action as "unusual", the top court refused to oblige and said it would be improper to intervene as the Delhi HC had reserved its judgement.

In more setback for Kejriwal, who is lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail, stayed the bail accusing the lower court of not granting enough time to the prosecution for argument and not listing the conditions for the bail.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate over money laundering allegations while framing the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped after the Lieutenant Governor raised red flags.

The ED has alleged the money Kejriwal got from the liquor sellers was used to fund the party's campaign in Goa since he is the convenor of the AAP.

Kejriwal and the AAP have throughout maintained the Centre has been misusing its agencies to harass the Opposition with false cases.

Kejriwal was given an interim bail in May for a brief period until June 2, 2024 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.

He went back to the jail on June 2, 2024 the day next to the last phase poll date.