Arvind Kejriwal gets interim bail till June 1, ‘SC verdict a victory of truth,’ says AAP
Supreme Court gave interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for 21 days, paving the way for his immediate release from the Tihar Jail and campaign for his party in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
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The Aam Aadmi Party Friday got a shot in its arm when the Supreme Court gave interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for 21 days, paving the way for his immediate release from the Tihar Jail in the national capital and campaign for his party in the on-going Lok Sabha polls.
The apex Court, at the same time, asked the AAP national convenor to surrender on June 2, a day after the polling for the seven-phased general elections is scheduled to end. All the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi are scheduled to go to polls on May 25. While granting interim bail to Kejriwal, the top court also pointed out the Enforcement Directorate's delay in arresting the AAP chief.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said that the central probe agency had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in August 2022, but Kejriwal was arrested in March.
"For about one and half years he was there ... The arrest could have been made afterward or before. 21 days here or there should not make any difference," Justice Khanna said.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody and had sought release from jail to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. As Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, top leaders of the party held a press conference in the national capital and said the verdict is a ‘victory for democracy’.
Delhi Minister Atishi said, “We have started a movement to end dictatorship, and this movement will be strengthened with Kejriwal walking out of jail.” She added that it is upto the citizens now to defeat “dictatorship by the power of vote”. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "Satya pareshan ho sakta hai, parajit nahi (Truth can be disturbed, but not defeated)."
"A positive atmosphere will be seen across the country now. We welcome interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal... Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's dictatorship will end now," he added.
