New Delhi: AAP leader Manish Sisodia has accused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of leaking information to the media to influence public opinion against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the ongoing excise policy case. Sisodia alleged that the CBI was "dancing like a puppet" on the BJP's agenda to keep Kejriwal imprisoned.
Sisodia criticized the CBI's actions, stating that while the agency requested a 14-day postponement of the bail hearing in court due to the unpreparedness of its reply, it simultaneously leaked this information to the media. This, he claimed, was a deliberate attempt to create a biased headline in newspapers. Sisodia, who was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI in the excise policy case, was granted bail by the Supreme Court earlier this month.
On Friday, the Supreme Court deferred the hearing on Kejriwal’s two pleas—one seeking bail and the other challenging his arrest by the CBI—until September 5. The CBI filed a counter affidavit before the Supreme Court concerning one of the pleas, with Additional Solicitor General SV Raju indicating that the CBI would submit a counter in the other plea within a week. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, noted that the CBI's counter affidavit was provided late on Thursday, leaving insufficient time to file a response.
In its counter affidavit, the CBI expressed concerns that Kejriwal might tamper with evidence if granted interim bail. The agency also accused Kejriwal of attempting to sensationalize the case politically. According to the CBI, as a prominent politician and Chief Minister of Delhi, Kejriwal's release could influence witnesses and hinder the ongoing investigation.
The Delhi High Court had previously rejected Kejriwal’s bail pleas on August 5, directing him to approach the trial court. On August 14, the Supreme Court also denied bail but sought the CBI’s response. Kejriwal had been granted interim bail in the ED case by the Supreme Court last month. The CBI arrested Kejriwal on June 26 while he was already in judicial custody in the ED case.
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