New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday, following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the ongoing excise policy case. The court has imposed two specific conditions on his release: Kejriwal is prohibited from entering both the Chief Minister’s office and the state secretariat.
Kejriwal’s legal troubles began in March when he was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over allegations of money laundering related to the Delhi liquor policy for 2021-22. The policy was later withdrawn after concerns were raised by the Lieutenant Governor. Kejriwal’s detention extended through his arrest by the CBI on June 26, 2024.
The ED has claimed that funds received from liquor sellers were diverted to finance the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) campaign in Goa, where Kejriwal is the party’s convenor. Both Kejriwal and the AAP have consistently argued that the central agencies are being used to target the opposition with baseless accusations.
Kejriwal had previously been granted interim bail in May to participate in Lok Sabha election campaigning, but he returned to jail on June 2, 2024, following the conclusion of the last phase of voting.
Notably, this latest development marks a significant turn in the legal battle surrounding Kejriwal and his party.
Conditions:
The court has explicitly stated that Arvind Kejriwal is prohibited from visiting the Chief Minister’s office or the state secretariat. He is also barred from signing any government documents, making public statements or comments about his trial, and communicating with any witnesses. Additionally, he will not have access to any official files related to the case. Kejriwal is required to appear in the trial court and cooperate with the investigation as necessary.
