Arvind Kejriwal gets bail: In an interim relief for the Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him bail till June 1 in the liquor policy scam case. The top court gave relief to the chief minister after he sought bail citing his right to campaign for elections. The Supreme Court gave interim relief to Kejriwal on grounds of certain conditions and asked him to surrender before the law enforcement authorities on June 1. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) welcomed the move and said it's a victory of truth. Let's take a look at five conditions on which Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail.
- Arvind Kejriwal has to pay a personal bond of Rs 50,000 before he leaves Tihar jail.
- Kejriwal cannot enter either the CM's office or the Delhi Secretariat.
- He cannot sign on any file without the prior permission of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor.
- Kejriwal cannot comment on his role in the Delhi liquor policy scam case.
- The Delhi CM is also not allowed to meet any witnesses in the excise policy scam.
Granting interim relief to the Delhi CM, the Supreme Court said that he (Kejriwal) shall furnish bail bonds in the sum of Rs. 50,000 with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the Jail Superintendent. He shall not visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat. He shall be bound by the statement made on his behalf that he shall not sign official files unless it is required and necessary for obtaining clearance/ approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
He will not make any comment with regard to his role in the present case or interact with any of the witnesses and/or have access to any official files connected with the case.
Supreme Court makes it clear that grant of interim bail will not be treated as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case or the criminal appeal which is pending consideration before it.
Granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal, Supreme Court takes into consideration that is the Chief Minister of Delhi and a leader of one of the national parties.
“No doubt, serious accusations have been made, but he has not been convicted. He does not have any criminal antecedents. He is not a threat to society,” says the Supreme Court.
Reacting on Kejriwal's bail, Assam Chief Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "...No respectable person will accept this bail. What kind of bail is this that you can go but come back on June 2."
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