The Supreme Court has granted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal interim bail till June 1, paving the way for his release nearly two months after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money-laundering case linked to a controversial liquor policy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader will likely campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, but has to surrender on June 2 — two days before the results. He will not perform chief minister’s duties during this period.
Kejriwal could walk out of jail as early as Friday night if the bail order reaches Tihar, where he is lodged, by 7pm, according to sources, in what could be a big boost to his party’s morale. The court’s decision earlier in the day was welcomed by political allies of the AAP, including the Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Trinamool Congress, among others. Kejriwal’s counsel said the court had “imposed no restriction on his campaigning”.
But Kejriwal will not visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat, according to the court’s order. He will not sign “official files unless it is required and necessary for obtaining clearance/ approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi”, and will have to furnish a Rs 50,000-bail bond. Also, the Delhi CM is will not make any comment “with regard to his role in the present case” and “will not interact with any of the witnesses and/or have access to any official files connected” with it.
In the court on Friday, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta argued that there was no precedent of a person being released for campaigning. But the bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said that “21 days [the period of bail] will not make any difference”, and asked the ED’s counsel not to “draw parallels with any other case”.
The top court noted that the liquor policy case was registered in August 2022 and the Delhi CM was arrested only in March 2024, after nearly one and half years. Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi had sought relief till June 5, a day after the votes are counted on June 4. However, the top court refused that request.
SG Mehta also cited Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh‘s case, who approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to file his nomination for polls. Replying to Mehta’s argument, Justice Khanna said, “It’s different.” The mention was made hours after Punjab’s AAP government informed the court that the state had facilitated Singh, currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA), to file his poll papers.
During a previous hearing on May 3, the court had hinted at granting relief to Kejriwal, but said he would not be able to perform his CM duties out on bail.
On March 21, Kejriwal was arrested in the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. Before him, his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, and party leader Sanjay Singh, who too is out on bail, were arrested in the same case. ED, which probes financial crimes, says the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy by the AAP government involved corruption and kickbacks.
The AAP says its leaders are targeted by the Centre’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as part of an effort to muzzle opposition voices through probe agencies. Federal ministers deny such accusations and say probe agencies are independent.
Stay informed with live updates on the latest Supreme Court order regarding the grant of Interim Bail To Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case.
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