'Arvind Kejriwal Deliberately Gave Evasive Replies': CBI Says Delhi CM Did Not Co-Operate

'arvind kejriwal deliberately gave evasive replies': cbi says delhi cm did not co-operate

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while seeking an extension of Arvind Kejriwal's custody said that the Delhi Chief Minister did not cooperate in investigation and "deliberately gave evasive replies".

The Rouse Avenue Court has reserved its order on the plea of the Central Bureau of Investigation seeking a 14-day judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after his 3-day CBI custody ended.

The probe agency, on Saturday, argued that during the police custody remand, the accused, Arvind Kejriwal, has been examined/ interrogated. However, he did not co-operate with the investigation and deliberately gave evasive replies contrary to the evidences on record.

“Kejriwal is deliberately and intentionally evading the just and relevant questions related to the case. He, being a prominent politician and Chief Minister of Delhi, is a very influential person, as such, there are credible reasons to believe that, he may influence the witnesses and evidences already exposed before him during the custodial interrogation and also the potential witnesses, who are yet to be examined, tamper with the evidence to be further collected and may hamper the ongoing investigation," CBI said.

CBI added that on being confronted with the evidences, he did not give proper and truthful explanation regarding the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5% to 12% under new Excise Policy of Delhi 2021-22, without any study or justification.

He also could not explain as to why during the peak of 2nd wave of Covid, the Cabinet approval for revised Excise Policy was obtained through circulation in hurried manner within one day, when the accused persons of the South Group were camping in Delhi and holding meetings with his close associate Vijay Nair, the Central probe agency argued.

“Further investigation is going on and the same is at the very crucial stage. Some crucial witnesses are yet to be examined and documents/digital evidence are yet to be collected.

Judge Sunena Sharma of the Rouse Avenue Court says, "after the police custody is over, the Court has no option but to remand the accused to judicial custody as per the CrPC."

Arvind Kejriwal's counsel opposed judicial custody in the now-scrapped excise policy case.

On Wednesday, the Delhi court had sent Kejriwal to custody of the central agency after he was questioned by the CBI in Tihar Jail in the alleged corruption case related to the now-scrapped excise policy.