Supreme Court grants bail to Arvind Kejriwal, deems CBI's arrest unjustified
PTC News Desk: Six months after his initial arrest in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scandal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case. On Friday, the Court declared the CBI's arrest as unjustified, emphasizing that prolonged detention "amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty."
Kejriwal's release marks a significant development in the high-profile case, making him the fourth major political figure to secure bail. Other prominent leaders previously released include Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Vijay Nair, as well as Bharat Rashtra Samithi's K Kavitha.
The timing of Kejriwal's release is particularly advantageous for the AAP, as the party prepares to contest the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its INDIA bloc ally, Congress.
Kejriwal's legal troubles began when he was first detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, 2024, in relation to a money laundering probe linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. His subsequent arrest by the CBI on June 26, 2024, occurred while he was still in ED custody.
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Following his July 12 release on interim bail in the ED case, Kejriwal remained incarcerated at Tihar Jail due to the CBI's arrest. His defense, led by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that the CBI's actions were a strategic move to prevent his release, characterizing it as an "insurance arrest" designed to keep him imprisoned.
Singhvi, known for representing opposition figures in legal battles, contended that Kejriwal, as a "constitutional functionary," posed no flight risk and that the evidence against him was already collected and documentary in nature, reducing the risk of evidence tampering.
On the other hand, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the CBI, argued that the kickbacks allegedly linked to the excise policy were used by the AAP to fund the 2022 Goa Assembly elections. Raju criticised the bail petition, asserting that Kejriwal had not sought bail from the trial court, which is typically the procedural route. He also expressed concerns that granting bail might demoralize the Delhi High Court.
Kejriwal's release is expected to bolster the AAP's position as it faces off against its political rivals in the forthcoming elections.
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- With inputs from agencies
