Arvind Kejriwal moves Supreme Court challenging CBI arrest

PTC News Desk: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal moved the Supreme Court on Monday challenging his CBI arrest. Arvind Kejriwal's plea seeks release from jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, in which he is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). 

Challenging his arrest and remand orders, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief sought bail while criticising the Delhi High Court's August 5 decision, which ruled that Kejriwal's arrest was neither illegal nor without justifiable grounds because the CBI presented "evidently enough evidence" to justify his detention and remand.

The petition was set to be heard urgently by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Monday morning. It was filed two days after the Supreme Court granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in excise policy matters under investigation by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. 

While releasing Sisodia on bail on August 9, the Supreme Court ruled that his 17-month incarceration, combined with his continued detention in a case with no hope of a trial ending anytime soon, violated his fundamental right to liberty and a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Kejriwal has been in custody since his arrest by the ED on March 21, apart from a 21-day interim bail granted by the top court in May for Lok Sabha election campaigning.