New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Friday passed scathing remarks on the Central Bureau of Investigation, a probe agency often accused by the Opposition of acting as a tool of the Centre for political gains, granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on June 26 when he was already in jail in connection with the same case.

The Aam Aadmi Party supremo has been in jail since March 21 when he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate over money laundering allegations while framing the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped after the Lieutenant Governor raised red flags.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said as quoted by NDTV, "CBI did not feel the need to arrest him (Mr Kejriwal) even though he was interrogated in March 2023 and it was only after his ED arrest was stayed that CBI became active and sought custody of Mr Kejriwal, and thus felt no need of arrest for over 22 months.

"Such action by the CBI raises serious question on the timing of the arrest and such an arrest by CBI was only to frustrate the bail granted in ED case."

The top court has also asked the CBI to act to prove that it is an "uncaged parrot".

"Perception also 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," it said as quoted by NDTV.

The top court has applied two conditions on his bail. Kejriwal has been barred from entering into the Chief Minister's office and the state secretariat.

The ED has alleged the money Kejriwal got from the liquor sellers was used to fund the party's campaign in Goa since he is the convenor of the AAP.

Kejriwal and the AAP have throughout maintained the Centre has been misusing its agencies to harass the Opposition with false cases.

Kejriwal was given an interim bail in May for a brief period until June 2, 2024 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.

He went back to the jail on June 2, 2024 the day next to the last phase poll date.