The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and seeking bail in the liquor policy scam case. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna delivered the verdict.

The court has allowed the Aam Aadmi Party leader to approach the special judge to file a regular bail application.

On July 17, the court reserved its order on Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest in the liquor policy case. Kejriwal’s counsel argued that the arrest was a strategic move to keep him imprisoned, terming it an "insurance arrest." The lawyer contended that the CBI had no substantial reason or evidence to detain Kejriwal and that the arrest was a tactic to ensure his continued incarceration.

However, the CBI opposed Kejriwal's petitions, asserting that his arrest was justified. They referred to Kejriwal as the "sutradhaar" (mastermind) of the excise scam and claimed they had sufficient evidence of his involvement.

Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 while he was already in Tihar Jail for a related money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). On July 12, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the money laundering case.

The excise policy, which was implemented in 2021, was revoked in 2022 following an order from the Delhi lieutenant governor for a CBI investigation into alleged corruption and irregularities in its formulation and implementation. The CBI and ED allege that changes to the excise policy were made to benefit certain licence holders unduly.