After spending 50 days in judicial custody, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal walked out of Tihar Jail following the Supreme Court’s decision granting him interim bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
Kejriwal expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court judges and the public for their support.
“We have to save the country from dictatorship, I will fight with all my might but need the support of 140 crore people,” he told the media.
Kejriwal’s bail extends until June 1, and he has been instructed to surrender to prison authorities by June 2. Despite his recent release, he remains committed to his political engagements, including participating in a roadshow in South Delhi for AAP’s candidate Sahi Ram Pehelwan.
“Our country is more than 4,000 years old. It’s a great country but whenever anyone has tried to be dictatorial in the country, people haven’t let them win. Today, the country is going through this dictatorial rule and is fighting against it but 140 crore will have to come together to fight it. I appeal to everyone to fight this together,” he said after he reached his home, as per media reports.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court highlighted concerns about Kejriwal exercising official duties while on bail, cautioning against potential complications. The court is set to issue a detailed order on the matter soon.
Political leaders across party lines welcomed the court’s decision, viewing it as a victory for democracy. Opposition figures praised the court’s intervention and expressed hopes for justice in similar cases. Mamata Banerjee, Pawan Khera, Sharad Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray, and Priyanka Chaturvedi were among those who lauded the ruling.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “We welcome the intervention by the Supreme Court in granting bail to Arvind Kejriwal…We also hope that the prime minister gets enough time after June 4, when he becomes the former prime minister of India, to introspect sitting in Sabarmati Ashram the kind of politics he has indulged in.”
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said she was happy that Kejriwal got interim bail. “It will be very helpful in the context of the current elections,” she said.
However, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) opposed granting interim relief to Kejriwal, citing concerns about criminals exploiting bail for campaigning purposes.
The BJP echoed these sentiments, asserting that bail does not imply innocence, particularly in the context of the Delhi excise policy case.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, “Sometimes even criminals are released on parole, and this is a legal process, so it does not prove that Kejriwal, who was the main culprit in the multi-crore liquor scam, is innocent today.”
In response, AAP criticized the ED’s affidavit, alleging a disregard for legal procedures. They lodged a complaint with the Supreme Court’s registry, highlighting the pending decision on the matter.
Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21, amid the Model Code of Conduct for the general election, sparked legal and political debates.
