NEW DELHI: On August 23, the Supreme Court deferred the hearing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the ongoing Delhi excise policy case. The case will now be heard on September 5 by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan.

During the proceedings, the Additional Solicitor General requested more time to submit a counter-affidavit for one of Kejriwal's petitions. The CBI had already filed its counter-affidavit in the related petition. Kejriwal's legal team, led by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, expressed concern over the timing of the affidavit submission, suggesting it was deliberately delayed.

The Supreme Court directed the CBI to respond to the remaining plea within two days, while also considering the allegations against Kejriwal. The CBI accused him of politically sensationalizing the case and claimed that he was involved in a criminal conspiracy alongside Manish Sisodia.

Granting both sides time to file further documents, the court scheduled the next hearing for September 5. Kejriwal's petition challenges an August 5 order by the Delhi High Court, which had dismissed his plea against the CBI arrest, leaving him the option to seek bail from the trial court.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while already in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges related to an alleged liquor policy scam. On July 12, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the money laundering case but referred the matter to a larger bench. Despite this interim relief, Kejriwal remains in judicial custody due to his arrest by the CBI.

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