GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court of India has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor policy case until June 1, allowing him temporary release while the case against him proceeds. The decision was announced by the Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta on May 10, with a detailed order expected to be uploaded later in the evening.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with the liquor policy case, which was registered in August 2022. This arrest occurred over a year and a half after the case was filed. The court observed that Kejriwal's arrest was considerably delayed and noted that his case differs from that of a habitual offender, warranting a different approach.
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During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju vehemently opposed the grant of interim bail to Kejriwal, arguing that there was substantial evidence against him and that the ongoing Lok Sabha elections should not be a basis for granting bail. However, the Supreme Court, considering Kejriwal's position as an elected Chief Minister, leaned towards allowing interim bail, stating that the general elections occur only once every five years.
The court indicated that Kejriwal would be granted bail with specific conditions, including that he would not be allowed to perform official duties during his temporary release, as that could create a cascading effect. The Solicitor General suggested additional conditions, such as not speaking to the press and surrendering on the last day of the bail term. The court agreed to the latter, specifying that Kejriwal must surrender on June 2.
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The court will conclude its hearing on Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest by the ED next week.
