Raghav Chadha Hits Back at ASG S V Raju’s Argument in Kejriwal’s Bail Hearing

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th Sept. Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha responded sharply to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju’s argument during the Supreme Court hearing on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest in the alleged excise policy scam. Representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Raju argued that granting bail to Kejriwal would “demoralise” the Delhi High Court.

Countering this, Chadha retorted, “If the Sun rises from the east, it will demoralise the West.” His statement aimed to dismiss Mr. Raju’s logic as flawed.

The Supreme Court reserved its order on Thursday regarding Kejriwal’s bail plea and his challenge to his arrest by the CBI. The Delhi Chief Minister has filed two petitions, one contesting the denial of bail and the other challenging his CBI arrest in the corruption case related to the excise policy.

Raju questioned the maintainability of Kejriwal’s petitions, pointing out that the AAP leader approached the Delhi High Court directly without first seeking relief from the sessions court. He added that similar cases, including a money laundering charge involving Mr. Kejriwal, were first taken to lower courts before being elevated to the Supreme Court.

“He seems to be an extraordinary person who requires a different approach. When all other ‘Aam Aadmis’ (common people) go to the trial court for bail, there cannot be special treatment for anyone,” Raju remarked, as reported by PTI.

Raju also cautioned that granting bail to Kejriwal would undermine the Delhi High Court. However, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, assured Raju that their ruling would ensure no such effect.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, termed the CBI’s arrest of the Delhi Chief Minister as an “insurance arrest” designed to keep him in jail even if he secured bail in a related Enforcement Directorate (ED) case. Kejriwal has already been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in the ED case, but he remains in custody due to the CBI case.

Singhvi also pointed out that all other co-accused in the case, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, K Kavitha, and Vijay Nayar, have been granted bail.