In response to the Supreme Court granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed strong disapproval, stating, "No respectable person will accept this bail. What kind of bail is this that you can go but come back on June 2." Speaking out on the SC's decision regarding Kejriwal's bail, Sarma criticised the conditions attached to the interim relief, questioning the efficacy of a bail that allows the individual to leave but mandates a return on a specified date.
SC grants Arvind Kejriwal interim bail for campaigning in LS polls
The Supreme Court provided a significant respite to Kejriwal on Friday, granting him interim bail until June 1 to campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, ruled that Kejriwal, embroiled in a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise policy scam, must surrender and return to jail on June 2.
Interim relief amidst election campaign
Kejriwal's plea for interim bail, represented by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, aimed for an extension until June 5, which the bench declined. Notably, June 1 marks the conclusion of the seven-phase elections, with vote counting scheduled for June 4.
Reasons awaited for interim bail
While the court's reasons for granting Kejriwal interim bail will be detailed later, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed the relief, citing concerns over the impact on poll campaigning.
Conditions and arguments
Despite the interim bail, the court hinted at imposing conditions similar to those applied to AAP leader Sanjay Singh, including refraining from discussing the excise policy case. The apex court is currently reviewing Kejriwal's plea challenging the Delhi High Court's ruling, upholding his arrest in the case.
Continued legal proceedings
Legal proceedings on Kejriwal's plea against his arrest are set to resume next week, with the bench aiming to deliver a verdict before the onset of summer vacations in mid-May.
Backdrop of the case
The case revolved around allegations of corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-revoked excise policy for 2021–22. Kejriwal's release on interim bail enables his active participation in election campaigning amidst ongoing legal battles.
Also read | Arvind Kejriwal gets interim bail from Supreme Court till June 1 in liquor policy case
