'Caesar's wife...caged parrot': SC pulls up CBI during Kejriwal hearing
The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the excise policy case. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the judgment, noting that the trial was unlikely to complete soon. In a separate judgment, Justice Bhuyan slammed the CBI, stating that Kejriwal's arrest after obtaining bail in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case was just to thwart Kejriwal's release from prison.
Justice Bhuyan questions timing of Kejriwal's arrest
He said that the arrest by CBI raises more questions than answers. "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 Jejriwal and thus no need of arrest for over 22 months." "Such action...raises serious questions on the timing of the arrest and such an arrest...was only to frustrate the bail granted in ED case," he said.
Justice Bhuyan urges CBI to maintain impartiality
Justice Bhuyan further urged the CBI to dispel the notion that it is the Central government's "caged parrot." He stated, "CBI must be seen above board and every effort must be made so that arrest is not in a high-handed manner. In a country, perception matters and 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 rejects CBI's argument for trial court bail
Justice Bhuyan also rejected the argument made by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju for CBI that Kejriwal has to first approach the trial court for bail. He stated, "Such a submission cannot be accepted and when Kejriwal has been granted bail in ED case. Further detention in this case is wholly untenable." He added that "bail is the rule and jail is an exception," emphasizing that the process leading to arrest should not become harassment.
Justice Bhuyan criticizes conditions of Kejriwal's release
The SC judge also expressed his reservations about the conditions previously prescribed by the Supreme Court barring Kejriwal from entering the Delhi Secretariat and signing files. He stated, "I have serious reservations on the conditions which bar Kejriwal from entering Secretariat or signing files, but I'm not making comment due to judicial restraint as it was in a different ED case." After Friday's ruling, Kejriwal has become the fifth and most prominent opposition leader to be released in this case.
