10 May 2024: In a significant development, the Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until June 1 in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The Chief Minister has been asked to surrender to the prison authorities by June 2.
A Bench comprising Justices Khanna and Dipankar Datta made this decision, emphasizing that they will be passing a detailed order on the matter soon.
During the hearing, the judges highlighted the potential ramifications if Kejriwal were to exercise his official duties or sign files while on interim bail. Justice Khanna observed that such actions could have a cascading effect.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had opposed granting any interim relief to Kejriwal, arguing that doing so would set a precedent where politicians facing criminal charges could be bailed out for campaigning, effectively evading arrest throughout the year. The ED’s stance was met with criticism from the AAP, which lodged a complaint with the Supreme Court’s registry, denouncing the agency’s affidavit as a “blatant disregard of legal procedures.”
Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case and has been in judicial custody since then. His arrest came shortly after the declaration of the Model Code of Conduct for the general election.
The decision to grant interim bail has elicited mixed reactions. While Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva cautioned that it did not absolve Kejriwal of corruption allegations, Sunita Kejriwal, the Chief Minister’s wife, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and termed it a victory of democracy.
AAP leaders hailed the Supreme Court’s decision as a victory for truth and democracy, expressing confidence that Kejriwal would now have the opportunity to present his case to the public.
The legal saga surrounding Kejriwal’s arrest stems from allegations of procedural lapses in the formulation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, which purportedly involved kickbacks received by AAP leaders. The ED has maintained that there is material evidence indicating Kejriwal’s involvement in money laundering.
With the interim bail granted, Kejriwal will be able to participate in election campaigning, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal and political saga surrounding the Delhi Chief Minister.
