Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party is hopeful of the release of its leader Arvind Kejriwal from jail soon after the back-to-back relief to the chief minister in cases from the trial and apex courts.
Speaking to News18, AAP’s Delhi state unit convener Gopal Rai said that when both courts – trial and apex – have given relief to Kejriwal in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case, he is still in jail because of the CBI case. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its judgment on Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the excise policy case.
“When the BJP felt that the trial court has given bail to Kejriwal and even the Supreme Court will do the same, they imposed the CBI case in between just a day before the apex court was to hear the matter,” Rai said in Hindi.
He said that the facts that were presented before the trial court and the Supreme Court are also before the HC and it should consider those orders, adding that the party supremo should be released soon from jail.
“They misused the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) and put him (Kejriwal) behind bars. Now, when the trial court has issued bail to him under the act and the Supreme Court has also given relief to him, they put the technical CBI case in between to make sure he remains in jail,” he said.
Rai highlighted that the CBI was the first agency to question Kejriwal back in April 2023 for nine hours. However, it remained quiet until June 26 this year when the CBI formally arrested the Delhi CM in the alleged excise scam case.
“The CBI case was added just to ensure that Kejriwal is not released. If they had to inquire, they should have done it so far,” he said.
Rai added that no one believes what is happening is right. He said that everyone is aware that the arrest was done with political motivation and “Kejriwal was arrested for causing trouble”.
“So many raids have been done (by the authorities) but they found nothing anywhere. They could not find even a single penny in any leader’s house,” said the AAP leader.
Kejriwal has been in jail since March 21 when the ED arrested him in connection with allegations that he, along with others, conspired to manipulate the state excise policy to benefit certain liquor vendors unfairly.
Last week, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the Delhi excise policy case and redirected the petition challenging his arrest by the ED to a larger bench.
The court said that Kejriwal has “suffered incarceration of 90 days”, adding that he is an elected leader. In May also the apex court granted him interim bail for two weeks for campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections. He returned to jail on June 2.
On June 20, the trial court granted him bail in the money laundering case but that order was stayed by the high court a day later. The trial court said the ED failed to furnish direct evidence linking Kejriwal to the proceeds of crime, adding that it may be possible some persons known to the applicant are having an involvement in an offence. The ED then moved to the HC which stayed the order.
The Delhi government introduced the new excise policy in November 2021 and withdrew it in July 2022, days after lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, recommended that the CBI should open an investigation into it. In August 2022, the agency filed an FIR, and days later, the ED jumped in and filed a money laundering case.
Rai went on to say that the party awaits Kejriwal’s return and the future planning will be done as and when he will be released from jail. Delhi is scheduled to have assembly elections next year as the term of the current government is ending in February 2025.
Rai, who is also a cabinet minister in the Kejriwal government, added that while the leader is away, they are prioritising that the work in Delhi should not stop and should be done at a faster pace. The development work, which was impacted due to the Lok Sabha polls and the model code of conduct, is being given importance, he added.
It is also important to note that Kejriwal’s deputy in government, Manish Sisodia, has been in jail since February 2023. He was first arrested by the CBI and then ED in corruption and money laundering cases against him linked to the Delhi excise policy case. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court sought a response from the ED and CBI on his bail petition. The matter will be heard on July 29.
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