Arvind Kejriwal Gets Interim Bail From Supreme Court But Won't Be Coming Out Of Jail — Here's Why

The Supreme Court on Friday (12 July) granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.

The apex court bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta also referred Kejriwal's plea against the arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a larger bench.

The larger bench will now examine the question whether the need or necessity of arrest must be read as a condition into Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The development comes after the apex court had reserved the verdict on Kejriwal's plea on 17 May.

"Given right to life is concerned and since matter is referred to larger bench, we direct Arvind Kejriwal to be released on interim bail," the Court ordered.

Kejriwal will however remain in custody since he was arrested by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act in relation to the same liquor policy case on 25 June.

The bench had earlier granted interim bail to Kejriwal up until 1 June to enable him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal had returned to jail after his bail period got over.

Kejriwal was arrested by ED on 21 March, after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him interim protection.

He remained in custody thereafter, until the Supreme Court granted him benefit of interim release (for Lok Sabha elections campaigning) on 10 May.

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