'Trump Is A Dangerous Word': Arvind Kejriwal’s Lawyer Mentions Ex-US President During SC Hearing

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, during the Supreme Court hearing on Thursday, invoked former US President Donald Trump's name while advocating for the AAP leader's bail in the ongoing Delhi excise policy case. Singhvi's argument emphasized the constitutional rights under Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, over the procedural aspects of the case.

Singhvi's reference to Trump was made in a context highlighting the significance of constitutional protections over legal technicalities. “An important principle is that Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution trump Section 45 of the PMLA... Trump is a dangerous word nowadays,” Singhvi remarked.

Representing Kejriwal, Singhvi argued before Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan that the CBI's actions lacked due process. He pointed out that the CBI had not served a notice to Kejriwal before his arrest and criticized the trial court's ex-parte arrest order. Singhvi noted that Kejriwal, who had been under scrutiny in the alleged excise policy scam, was arrested only after securing bail in a related money laundering case.

Singhvi emphasized that Kejriwal, a constitutional functionary, poses no flight risk and was not named in the original CBI FIR. He also highlighted that the Supreme Court had previously granted interim bail in the money laundering case, observing that Kejriwal had not threatened public order.

The Supreme Court is set to review the CBI's counter affidavit and allow Kejriwal to submit a rejoinder. 

Kejriwal has challenged the August 5 decision of the Delhi High Court, which upheld his arrest and deemed it lawful. The high court had found no malice in the CBI's actions, noting that Kejriwal's presence was crucial to ensuring witness testimonies in the case.