The Supreme Court of India gives interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal till June 1. How will the decision boost the chances of the INDIA bloc in the remaining phases of General Elections 2024?
Our Bureau
New Delhi
In a boost for the INDIA bloc, after spending 50 days in Tihar jail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was released on Friday following the Supreme Court’s order granting him interim bail in the excise policy case. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, 2024, in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam.
A huge crowd of supporters gathered outside Tihar jail to welcome the Chief Minister on his release. Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann, party leaders Atishi, and Saurabh Bhardwaj and AAP general secretary Sandeep Pathak accompanied Kejriwal when he was released. The Chief Minister headed to his official residence after he was released from Tihar jail.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Dutta granted the Delhi Chief Minister interim bail in the money laundering case registered against him by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).
The ED had opposed his bail in the top court, which was hearing arguments on Kejriwal’s bail plea. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, also representing ED, told the bench at an earlier hearing that there can’t be any deviation only because Kejriwal is Chief Minister and asked if the Supreme Court is carving out exceptions for politicians.
Arvind Kejriwal is now likely to join the AAP campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Delhi goes to the polls on May 25.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday appealed to the public to unite against “dictatorship” and said that he is fighting “with everything that he has.”
“Our country is more than 4,000 years old. But whenever anyone tried to impose dictatorship on this country, people never tolerated it. Today the country is passing through a period of dictatorship. I am fighting against it,” he said while addressing his supporters.
Kejriwal addressed the supporters enroute to his official residence on Friday after he was released from Tihar Jail.
“I want to thank all of you. Crores and crores of people across the country prayed for me. I want to thank the Supreme Court because of whom I’m standing here with you. I just have one request to make with all of you we should together save the country from dictatorship. I’m fighting and protesting against dictatorship with everything I have. But the 140-crore people have to fight against dictatorship,” Kejriwal said while addressing the supporters on Friday.
Earlier in April this year, AAP MP Sanjay Singh was released on bail from Tihar jail following the top court’s order. Singh was released after spending over six months in jail in connection with the excise policy case. Kejriwal has been granted interim bail till June 1 with conditions that he shall not visit the Office of the Chief Minister or the Delhi Secretariat.
While granting Kejriwal interim bail, the apex court said he would not interact with any of the witnesses or have access to any official files connected with the case. He will not “make any comment with regard to his role” in the present case, the bench ordered.
The bench also made it clear that the 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. The AAP supremo is likely to participate in the election campaigns of the party in the run-up to the general elections in Delhi scheduled to be held on May 25.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) thanked the Supreme Court for “upholding democracy” after the top court on Friday granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.
Addressing a joint press conference in Delhi along with AAP leaders Saurabh Bhardwaj, Gopal Rai and Atishi on Friday, party national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, “We are extremely grateful to the Supreme Court for upholding the democracy in the country today. The interim bail has been granted in very extraordinary circumstances.”
“This is the last chance to save the democracy and we call upon the citizens, media and all of you to ensure we also uphold the democracy this time,” Kakkar added.
Addressing the press conference, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said that the entire country is “happy” with the Chief Minister getting interim bail. “Today the Supreme Court has given a ray of hope to all those who believe in the Constitution. Today the entire country including Delhi is happy. Our party, people of Delhi thank the Supreme Court,” Gopal Rai said.
Delhi Minister Atishi called it the “victory of democracy and Constitution.”
“It is not just Arvind Kejriwal who has got interim bail but by this decision of the Supreme Court, truth has triumphed, this is a victory of the democracy and Constitution. The SC has played a major role in protecting democracy,” Atishi said while speaking at the joint press conference.
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said the development is a “sign from God” for the country and Kejriwal is coming out of jail for a big purpose. “Getting interim bail in 40 days is more than a miracle. Through SC, it is a sign from God that whatever is happening in India, a change is needed in that. Arvind Kejriwal has the blessings of Lord Bajrangbali and today he will come out of jail,” the Delhi Minister said.
“I think it’s not an ordinary thing and he is coming out of jail for a big purpose,” he added. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed happiness after the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till June 1 in the excise policy case. In a post on X, CM Mamata said, “I am very happy to see that Shri Arvind Kejriwal @ArvindKejriwal has got interim bail. It will be very helpful in the context of the current elections”.
Aaditya Thackeray in a post on X, said more power to Kejriwal. “@ArvindKejriwal ji getting justice and relief against the dictatorial regime in the country is a huge sign of winds of change. He has been speaking the truth and that is what the bjp dislikes. More power to him and the INDIA alliance for Bharat. We will protect our Constitution and democracy!”.
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said, “It is not just Arvind Kejriwal who has got interim bail but by Supreme Court’s this decision truth has triumphed, this is a win of the Democracy & Constitution…The SC has played a major role in protecting Democracy…”
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal slammed the Enforcement Directorate for playing politics over the issue of interim bail of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He also advised them to know how Hardik Patel, who later joined the BJP, contested the election after being convicted.
“Yesterday, ED presented its side before the Supreme Court and said that Arvind Kejriwal should not be granted interim bail because the right to campaign is a legal right, not a Constitutional right…It is correct. But the law also provides that if someone has been awarded punishment and court says that they are staying the punishment, he can take part in campaigning…,’ Sibal told ANI.
Sibal added: “Ask them how Hardik Patel contested the election. Hardik Patel was convicted, High Court stayed it. Hardik approached the Supreme Court and the Court stayed it. Hardik contested the election and joined the BJP. Someone, against whom you have evidence and punishment, has the right (to campaign) if the Court stays it. But someone who is just an accused can’t be given the stay…What kind of politics is ED doing?”
The bail move seems to have given a big boost to INDIA bloc. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant interim bail to the Delhi Chief Minister is a tight slap on the face of ED and central government. “We welcome this decision of the Supreme Court. SC’s decision is a tight slap on the face of ED and central government. The central government has used ED as a political agency against the opposition party…When you arrest an elected CM what kind of level playing field is it?” she said.
Several other politicians have also expressed happiness over the Supreme Court’s decision.
