Supreme Court Denies Immediate Relief to Delhi CM Kejriwal in CBI Case

In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday declined to grant immediate interim relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is embroiled in a corruption case linked to the excise policy. A bench led by Justice Surya Kant issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for their response to Kejriwal's bail plea, which is scheduled for a hearing on August 23. The court emphasized that it would not be granting any interim bail at this stage. Kejriwal's petition follows the recent bail granted to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a related investigation by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Chief Minister is contesting his arrest and the Delhi High Court's ruling from August 5, which deemed his detention justified based on substantial evidence presented by the CBI. His legal team argues that the grounds for Sisodia's release should similarly apply to Kejriwal, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's assertion regarding the right to liberty and a speedy trial. Kejriwal has been in custody since March 21, with a brief 21-day release for election campaigning. His arrest is part of a broader investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-repealed 2021-22 excise policy. The case has significant political implications, as Kejriwal's leadership is crucial for the Aam Aadmi Party's strategy ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Delhi.