Even as the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal in a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) linked to the now-defunct Delhi excise policy of 2021-22, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, hearing the case, had strong words reserved for the investigating agency.
Delivering a separate judgment in the case granting bail to Kejriwal, Justice Bhuyan said the agency had arrested Kejriwal even after he secured bail in the Enforcement Directorate case to "frustrate" his (Kejriwal's) release from prison.
CBI's action "raised questions on the timing of the arrest," Justce Bhuyan said.
"CBI did not feel the need to arrest him though he was interrogated in March 2023 and it was only after his ED arrest was stayed, CBI became active and sought custody of Kejriwal and thus no need of arrest for over 22 months. Such action by CBI raises serious question on the timing of the arrest and such an arrest by CBI was only to frustrate the bail granted in ED case," Justice Bhuyan said.
The CBI must dispel the notion of being a caged parrot and must be above all suspicions, he said.
CBI must be seen to be above board and every effort must be made so that arrest was not done in a high handed manner.
Perception mattered in the country and the "CBI must dispel the notion of being a caged parrot and must show it is an uncaged parrot. CBI should be like Caesar's wife, above suspicion," Justice Bhuyan said in his order.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 for his alleged links to a money laundering case related to the excise policy. The CBI subsequently arrested him on June 26 in a corruption case related to the alleged scam.
Though the top court granted him interim bail in the money laundering case on July 12, he could not be released from jail due to the CBI’s corruption case.
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