The
Supreme Court, on Friday, granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy
case. The top court has redirected the petition challenging his arrest by the
Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a larger bench.
While
granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister, the top court said that the AAP supremo
has “suffered incarceration of 90 days”.
However, Arvind Kejriwal will continue to be held in
Tihar Jail after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in
relation to a corruption case involving an alleged liquor policy scam.
During the bail plea hearing for Kejriwal, the
Supreme Court said that it lacks the authority to mandate the removal of an
elected representative, stating that such decisions must be made by the Chief
Minister himself.
Earlier,
the SC Bench had granted interim bail to Kejriwal until June 1 to enable his
participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign. Following the expiration
of his interim bail, Kejriwal returned to jail on June 2.
Kejriwal
was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with allegations that he,
along with AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and others, conspired to manipulate the
Delhi excise policy of 2021-22 to benefit certain liquor vendors unfairly.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) on June 26 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case
of 2021-22, which has since been withdrawn. The CBI took action to investigate
alleged irregularities in the policy's formulation, citing Kejriwal's lack of
cooperation.
During
his court appearance following the arrest, Kejriwal accused the CBI of
constructing a misleading narrative through media reports, blaming his former
deputy, Manish Sisodia, for the excise policy decisions.
On
June 29, a Delhi court sent him to judicial custody till July 12.
Seeking
bail in the CBI case, Kejriwal has approached the Delhi High Court, which on
July 2 requested the CBI's response. The hearing is scheduled for July
17.
Additionally,
Kejriwal's legal team indicated plans to file a separate bail plea challenging
his arrest by the CBI.
A
bench led by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna heard the matter and issued a notice
to the CBI, demanding a response within a week.