Arvind Kejriwal’s advocate had sought interim bail be granted till June 5. However, the Supreme Court refused the request. (File photo: PTI)
The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s now scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.
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 controversial liquor policy.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader can campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, but will have to surrender on June 2 — two days before the results.
Appearing for Kejriwal, the senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi had sought bail till June 5 a day after the votes are counted on June 4. However, the bench refused the request.
The Delhi CM could walk out of jail as early as Friday night, according to reports, in what could be a big boost to his party’s morale. Friday’s court decision was welcomed by political allies of the AAP, including the Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Trinamool Congress, among others.
In the court, Solicitor General 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.
Mehta had 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 Sanjiv Khanna said, “It’s different.”
The mention was made hours after Punjab’s AAP government informed the court that the state has facilitated Singh, currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA), to file his poll papers.
During a 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.
Kejriwal would not extend his bail period or take charge of CM’s office, though he would campaign for his party, according to ED lawyers who spoke on the conditions set by the Supreme Court. The detailed order will be out this evening.
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 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.
