The Supreme Court today granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the ongoing Delhi liquor policy case. Kejriwal, who has been incarcerated since April 1, 2024, is set to be released after spending six months in Tihar Jail. His release comes just ahead of the crucial Haryana Assembly elections, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is positioning itself as a significant contender.
Kejriwal was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, 2024, on charges of money laundering related to the alleged liquor policy scam. Subsequently, on June 26, 2024, he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) while still in ED custody, leading to his prolonged imprisonment despite being granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on July 12, 2024, in the ED case.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued in court that the CBI’s arrest was a strategic move to prevent Kejriwal’s release, despite there being no risk of flight or evidence tampering. The CBI, however, maintained that a portion of the kickbacks from the excise policy was funneled into AAP’s 2022 Goa Assembly election campaign.
Kejriwal’s release marks a significant development for the AAP, following the bail of other prominent leaders involved in the case, including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Vijay Nair, and K Kavitha of Bharat Rashtra Samithi.
