Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court for 21 days, allowing him to participate in campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
The court has instructed Arvind Kejriwal to surrender on June 2, a day after the conclusion of the seven-phased polling for the general elections.
The Supreme Court, led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, expressed concern over the delay in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arresting Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case.
The ED had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in August 2022 but only arrested Arvind Kejriwal in March, more than a year later.
The bench remarked on the timing of the arrest, stating, “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.”
Arvind Kejriwal was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 as part of investigations into an alleged liquor policy scam. He has been under judicial custody at Tihar jail since then.
Kejriwal had sought temporary release from jail to actively participate in election campaigning. The Supreme Court’s decision to grant him interim bail for 21 days enables him to engage in electoral activities before resuming judicial custody after June 2.
The case against Arvind Kejriwal involves serious allegations, and the legal proceedings will continue alongside his electoral engagements. The Supreme Court’s ruling reflects a balance between the demands of justice and the exercise of democratic rights during the election period.
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