Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Defends Innocence in Liquor Policy Case Amid CBI Investigation

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Defends Innocence in Liquor Policy Case Amid CBI Investigation

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared his innocence and that of his party during a court appearance on Wednesday, addressing allegations of irregularities in the now-scrapped liquor policy. Speaking at the Rouse Avenue Court, Kejriwal emphasized that he did not blame any Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, for the alleged misconduct.

CM Kejriwal accused CBI sources of creating a false narrative in the media to tarnish the image of the ruling party and its leaders. “I have never testified that Manish Sisodia is guilty. Manish Sisodia is innocent, AAP is innocent, I am innocent,” he stated emphatically.

The CBI’s counsel argued that custodial interrogation of CM Kejriwal was necessary, suggesting that he had shifted the responsibility onto Sisodia, who was in charge of the liquor portfolio at the relevant time. In response, Vacation Judge Amitabh Rawat of the special court reserved the order on the CBI’s application seeking a five-day custody of the AAP supremo in the liquor case.

Earlier in the day, CM Kejriwal was formally arrested by the CBI and produced before the Rouse Avenue Court. The court had granted permission to the CBI to present Kejriwal after he was questioned by the agency in Tihar Jail.

In related legal proceedings, CM Kejriwal withdrew his plea filed before the Supreme Court, challenging the interim stay ordered by the Delhi High Court on his release on bail in the money laundering case linked to the liquor policy. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, informed a Vacation Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and SVN Bhatti that a fresh plea would be moved before the apex court in light of the latest Delhi High Court decision.

The Delhi High Court, in its final verdict on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), criticized the trial court Vacation Bench for not thoroughly considering the material presented and stressed the need for the ED to be given an equal opportunity to argue the bail application.

As the legal battle continues, the focus remains on the alleged irregularities in the liquor policy and the implications for Delhi’s political landscape.