Delhi HC allows CBI not to give seized documents to Kejriwal govt

Papers were seized when probe agency searched the office of Rajendra Kumar, principal secretary to the chief minister.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday set aside the order of a trial court asking the CBI to give the AAP government documents it had seized in a raid at the office of Rajendra Kumar, principal secretary to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal alleges the CBI is harassing his government on the Centre’s behalf.(Sushil Kumar/ HT file photo)

Justice PS Teji said the CBI’s reason to retain documents seized during the raid on December 15 was “justified”. Teji said the observations made by the trial court against CBI was “irrelevant and illogical” as the matter was being probed by the agency.

The CBI had challenged the trial court’s order directing the probe agency to release some of the seized documents.

The Aam Aadmi Party government had told the court that the CBI was trying to give “political colour” to the raid and that the agency acted under “political pressure” to indiscriminately seize the documents.

The CBI, however, said the documents seized from Kumar’s office “prima facie reflect criminal conspiracy and criminal misconduct and abuse of official position by the accused people”.

The agency, while defending the seizure of the documents, told the courts that it had followed procedure while investigating corruption charges against Kumar.