CBI formally arrests Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in connection with excise policy case

The Delhi CM was brought before Special Judge Amitabh Rawat, where the CBI sought his custody for interrogation. The application for his arrest was moved by the central probe agency after Kejriwal was produced in court from Tihar Central Jail.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was on Wednesday (June 26) formally arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the excise 'scam' case. The CBI obtained permission from a special court in Delhi to proceed with the arrest after presenting the necessary documents.

The Delhi CM was brought before Special Judge Amitabh Rawat, where the CBI sought his custody for interrogation. The application for his arrest was moved by the central probe agency after Kejriwal was produced in court from Tihar Central Jail.

The excise case involves allegations of corruption and money laundering related to the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. Lt Governor VK Saxena had recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities, leading to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filing a case on August 22, 2022, following the CBI FIR lodged on August 17, 2022.

Introduced in November 2021, the New Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 aimed to revolutionize the liquor retail landscape in the capital, with goals of maximizing state revenue, combating the sale of counterfeit alcohol, and enhancing the consumer experience. However, the policy faced significant opposition and allegations of procedural irregularities, resulting in its annulment on August 1, 2022.