In a big relief to the Delhi Chief Minister, the Rouse Avenue Court on Friday granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy case. He was granted bail on a bond of Rs 1 lakh. Special Judge Niyay Bindu granted the relief to the AAP chief on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The judge passed the order after hearing arguments advanced by the prosecution and the defence counsel on Kejriwal's application for regular bail. According to sources from the Tihar, Kejriwal is likely to come out of jail on Friday, June 21.
Court declined ED's request
The court also declined the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) request to stay the bail order of Kejriwal for 48 hours. Earlier in the day, the court had reserved its order on the bail application of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Special Judge Niyay Bindu had reserved the order after hearing the ED, which sought to link Kejriwal to the alleged proceeds of crime and co-accused, and the defence that claimed the prosecution has no evidence to nail the AAP leader.
Kejriwal gets bail with certain conditions
The judge imposed certain conditions on Kejriwal before granting him the relief, including that he will not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses. The judge also directed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation. Kejriwal's lawyers are likely to submit the bail bond before the court on Friday, after which he would be released from Tihar jail.
AAP leaders react
There is a wave of happiness among Aam Aadmi Party leaders following Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail. Celebrating the news, Delhi government minister Atishi took to her X account and wrote "Satyamev Jayate".
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan wrote, "Have faith in the court..Bail for Kejriwal ji..Truth wins..(sic)."
AAP Rajya Sabha Member Raghav Chadha also expressed his happiness following the court's order. "Truth may be troubled but not defeated. This is the victory of justice, the victory of truth. Heartfelt thanks to the Honorable Court for granting bail to Arvind Kejriwal ji (sic)," he wrote on X.
Opposition leaders react
BJP leader Kapil Mishra hoped that Kejriwal will "work for the people of Delhi in the remaining tenure".
"After being badly defeated in the court of the people, Kejriwal will now run the government as a criminal who has come out on bail. I hope this time, leaving behind your arrogance and rudeness, you will do some work for the people of Delhi in the remaining tenure," he posted on X.
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole welcomed the decision of the court and said that Kejriwal was "trapped".
"We welcome the decision of the court on Arvind Kejriwal. He was trapped, there was no mistake of him, it became clear through this..." Patole said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said, " There is an old saying that truth can be troubled, not defeated. Today, Arvind Kejriwal got bail from the court, and he will come out of the jail tomorrow. Justice was served to him today. He was deliberately kept in jail for so long...We know that when justice is not served anywhere, then we have the support of the court."
When was Kejriwal arrested?
The ED had arrested Kejriwal on March 21, shortly after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him protection from arrest on his petition challenging summonses issued to him. On May 10, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections, saying he will have to surrender and go back to jail on June 2. Kejriwal had surrendered before Tihar jail authorities on June 2 and has been there since then.
Delhi excise policy scam case
The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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