Arvind Kejriwal

CBI labels Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's bail a "sutradhaar" in the excise policy case.

 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of being the "sutradhar" in the excise policy fraud. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBI said that Kejriwal signed the excise policy, sent it to his colleagues, and got their signatures all on the same day. In addition, the CBI submitted Kejriwal's final chargesheet, alleging that he was there when Vijay Nair delivered a copy of the excise policy to be input into a computer.

During the Delhi High Court bail hearing of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) referred to him as the'sutradhar' of the excise policy case.

The matter is being heard by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who has reserved her decision on Kejriwal's release as well as the appeal contesting his arrest.

The CBI also submitted Kejriwal's final chargesheet earlier today. Arvind Kejriwal is allegedly the "sutradhar" or main player in the excise policy scheme, as the CBI told the Delhi High Court.

Arvind Kejriwal, the head of the cabinet, signed the excise policy, sent it to his colleagues, and got their signatures on it all in one day, the agency counsel said during the hearing. This happened in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The CBI counsel further stated that Arvind Kejriwal was there when Vijay Nair delivered a copy of the excise policy to be input into the computer, according to C. Aravind, an IAS officer working under Manish Sisodia's supervision. The CBI claims that this shows Kejriwal's direct participation in the situation.

Kejriwal was detained by the CBI on June 26 from Tihar prison, where he was already under judicial custody till July 3 in connection with an Enforcement Directorate (ED) money-laundering investigation.

It should be mentioned that in the aforementioned case, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi granted the CBI an extension of time to hold the Chief Minister in prison till August 8.

The AAP chief entered a plea earlier this month, claiming that the investigative agency had not shown any fresh evidence since June 4 to support the probe or the arrest.

He had also contested the trial court's June 26 ruling, which gave the CBI a three-day detention.

Previously, Kejriwal said that the CBI's detention of him in connection with the purported excise policy scheme was akin to a "insurance arrest".

"Unfortunately, the arrest is related to insurance. In the ED case, I essentially have three release orders in my favor with extremely strict terms. These directives demonstrate the man's entitlement to his release. Senior counsel Abhishek Singhvi contended before Justice Neena Bansal Krishna on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener, saying "He would have been released but for this insurance arrest."

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with the same liquor policy matter. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal temporary release, providing solace for the jailed Chief Minister.

The Enforcement Directorate is looking into Kejriwal, who has been detained since March 21 in connection with the money laundering case (ED).