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This is an archive article published on June 29, 2024

Excise policy case: Kejriwal didn’t cooperate during probe, says CBI; court sends him to judicial custody till July 12

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought 14-day judicial custody of the Delhi CM, saying his incarceration was required in the "interest of the investigation and justice".

Arvind KejriwalDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal being produced before Rouse Avenue court. (PTI Photo)

A Delhi court on Saturday sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal back to judicial custody till July 12 as his three-day CBI custody ended in the excise policy case.

In its remand application, the CBI said that Kejriwal “did not cooperate” during the custodial interrogation. “He also evaded the questions regarding the transfer and utilisation of ill-gotten money to the tune of Rs 44.54 crore for Goa state elections by his party during 2021-22,” the central probe agency claimed, adding that Kejriwal was “deliberately and intentionally evading the just and relevant questions related to the case.”

The Chief Minister, the CBI also stated, is a prominent politician and a “very influential person” and he could influence the witnesses or tamper the evidence in the case. The agency sought 14 days jail for Kejriwal, saying it was required “in the interest of the investigation and justice”.

Special Judge Sunena Sharma allowed the CBI plea. Kejriwal will be produced in the court on July 12, she said.

On Wednesday, Kejriwal was sent to CBI custody for three days, a day after he was questioned by the central agency in Tihar Jail in the corruption case linked to the excise policy.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy. He suffered a setback on Tuesday when the Delhi High Court stayed a trial court order granting him bail in the case filed by the ED.

On Wednesday, Kejriwal withdrew his plea in the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision to reserve its verdict on the ED plea for staying the trial court’s bail order.

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Kejriwal’s arrest in the CBI case means that even if the Supreme Court intervenes in the bail case for money laundering, his release from jail will require a separate bail order in the corruption case.

The Chief Minister said “events are overtaking” him rapidly with the CBI reviving a 2022 interrogation to arrest him shortly after the High Court ruling. He is likely to move a fresh plea before the Supreme Court now.

Nirbhay Thakur is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express who primarily covers district courts in Delhi and has reported on the trials of many high-profile cases since 2023. Professional Background Education: Nirbhay is an economics graduate from Delhi University. Beats: His reporting spans the trial courts, and he occasionally interviews ambassadors and has a keen interest in doing data stories. Specializations: He has a specific interest in data stories related to courts. Core Strength: Nirbhay is known for tracking long-running legal sagas and providing meticulous updates on high-profile criminal trials. Recent notable articles In 2025, he has written long form articles and two investigations. Along with breaking many court stories, he has also done various exclusive stories. 1) A long form on Surender Koli, accused in the Nithari serial killings of 2006. He was acquitted after spending 2 decades in jail. was a branded man. Deemed the “cannibal" who allegedly lured children to his employer’s house in Noida, murdered them, and “ate their flesh” – his actions cited were cited as evidence of human depravity at its worst. However, the SC acquitted him finding various lapses in the investigation. The Indian Express spoke to his lawyers and traced the 2 decades journey.  2) For decades, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been at the forefront of the Government’s national rankings, placed at No. 2 over the past two years alone. It has also been the crucible of campus activism, its protests often spilling into national debates, its student leaders going on to become the faces and voices of political parties of all hues and thoughts. The Indian Express looked at all court cases spanning over two decades and did an investigation. 3) Investigation on the 700 Delhi riots cases. The Indian Express found that in 17 of 93 acquittals (which amounted to 85% of the decided cases) in Delhi riots cases, courts red-flag ‘fabricated’ evidence and pulled up the police. Signature Style Nirbhay’s writing is characterized by its procedural depth. He excels at summarizing 400-page chargesheets and complex court orders into digestible news for the general public. X (Twitter): @Nirbhaya99 ... Read More

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