New Delhi:
The Supreme Court has given Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal bail till June 1, the final phase of voting for the seven-stage 2024 Lok Sabha election. The Aam Aadmi Party boss – arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam case, and currently in the city’s Tihar Jail – must surrender to prison officials by June 2.
In granting interim bail for Mr Kejriwal, the Supreme Court shot down arguments about the term of release, noting, “21 days (the period of bail) will not make any difference.”
“Let us not draw parallels with any other case…” the court said, pointing out the ED had registered its case two years ago and that Mr Kejriwal was only arrested in March 2024.
“For one-and-a-half years he was there… he could have been arrested before or after (the election) also. Whatever it is, 21 days here or there should not make any difference.”
The two-judge bench – Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta – said bail conditions would be similar to those imposed on Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, Mr Kejriwal’s colleague who was arrested in October in connection with the same case and given bail in early April.
Crucially, Mr Singh was allowed to participate in political activities, meaning he could campaign for the AAP. And that is what Mr Kejriwal is also expected to be able to do, once he is released. Sources said the AAP boss could walk out of Tihar as early as this evening.
Shortly after Mr Kejriwal also got bail, Mr Singh posted on X. “The truth can be troubled but not defeated. The decision of the Supreme Court is welcomed. The dictatorship will end and the country will see the wonders of Kejriwal… Satyamev Jayate (the truth will win),” he said.
Mr Kejriwal’s release order has been cheered by the opposition, including the Congress, which heads the INDIA bloc of which the AAP is a member. “We welcome the intervention by the Supreme Court in granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal…” Congress leader Pawan Khera said, as he then switched focus to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
“We hope the ex-Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, also gets due justice.”
Trinamool Congress leader and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also welcomed the decision, posting on X, “I am very happy to see that Arvind Kejriwal has got interim bail…”
Ex-Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray also spoke up, saying, “Arvind Kejriwalji getting justice and relief against dictatorial regime in the country is a huge sign of winds of change.”
