Arvind Kejriwal Set To Walk Out Of Jail As Supreme Court Grants Him Bail

In a big relief for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Friday (12 September) granted bail to him in the CBI case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam.

Noting that the completion of trial in the case is unlikely in the near future, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, directed that Kejriwal be released on bail subject to bail bonds of Rs 10 lakh.

The apex Court also directed Kejriwal to not make any public comments about this case and be present for all hearings before trial court unless exempted.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 21 March in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.

On 26 June, the CBI formally arrested him in a corruption case linked to the alleged scam.

The Supreme Court had granted him interim bail in the money laundering case on 12 July and he is currently in judicial custody in the CBI’s corruption case.

During the hearing, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, argued that the CBI arrested the AAP chief when he was on the "cusp of release" in the ED case, terming CBI's move an "insurance arrest".

"I am the most captive interrogatee you can find, ever. Just for insurance you arrested. No substantial material was demonstrated to justify my arrest. The grounds were vague," Singhvi had said.

Singhvi also pointed out that though the CBI case was registered in August 2022, Kejriwal was not arrested for about two years.

On the other hand, the CBI has claimed that a big chunk of the kickbacks from the excise policy case was used by AAP in the Goa Assembly polls in 2022.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the CBI, objected to the bail petition, saying Kejriwal had never approached the trial court for bail, which is the usual course of action.

The Chief Minister, who has been behind bars since 1 April, moved the High Court directly for bail, which was rejected. He then approached the Supreme Court.

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