Amid heavy rain and thunderous applause from supporters, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail on Friday evening after spending over six months behind bars.
Kejriwal, arrested in connection with the controversial Delhi liquor excise policy case, was granted bail earlier in the day by the Supreme Court, which ruled that his “prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty.”
Watch Arvind Kejriwal’s address here:
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Addressing a large crowd of supporters, including his wife Sunita Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Delhi Minister Atishi, and former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Kejriwal expressed his gratitude. “My life is devoted to the nation,” he said in Hindi, adding that the challenges he has faced only strengthened his resolve. “After I have come out of jail, my morale and strength have gone up 100 times.”
Though Arvind Kejriwal did not directly mention the BJP, he criticized the forces that, according to him, tried to suppress him. “They thought they could break my spirit by putting me in jail. But I will continue to follow the path shown by God and serve the nation,” he declared.
जनता के प्यार, संविधान के कवच और भगवान के आशीर्वाद से इंक़लाब का नायक लौट आया है।#केजरीवाल_आ_गये pic.twitter.com/kw2RpyZfXJ
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) September 13, 2024
Supporters, including Mann and Sisodia, celebrated the release with slogans like “Jail ke taale toot gaye, Kejriwal chhoot gaye” (The jail locks are broken, Kejriwal is free), while party leaders rejoiced in his return.
Supreme Court’s Bail Conditions
While granting bail, the Supreme Court laid down certain conditions. Arvind Kejriwal cannot return to his office or the Delhi Secretariat, nor can he sign any files without the approval of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The ruling underscores the contentious relationship between the Chief Minister and the L-G.
आज देश को कुछ राष्ट्र विरोधी ताक़तें कमज़ोर करने में लगी हैं।
ये राष्ट्र विरोधी ताक़तें भाई को भाई से लड़ाने, जजों को डराने, Election Commission, ED-CBI पर क़ब्ज़ा करने की कोशिश कर रही हैं।
मेरा क़सूर ये था कि मैं इन राष्ट्र विरोधी ताक़तों के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ा। मैं पहले भी राष्ट्र… pic.twitter.com/WonQNC2EEY
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) September 13, 2024
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The two-judge bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, differed on whether Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI was lawful. While Justice Kant saw no issue with the arrest, Justice Bhuyan questioned the timing, suggesting the CBI acted only after Kejriwal had been granted bail in the related Enforcement Directorate case, calling it a move to “frustrate” his release.
Justice Bhuyan further remarked that the CBI must avoid any perception of being a “caged parrot” and ensure its actions remain above suspicion.
The Liquor Policy Case
The Delhi liquor excise policy, introduced in November 2021, allowed private licensees to run liquor stores, with the Delhi government withdrawing from retail sales. However, in July 2022, Delhi’s Chief Secretary flagged irregularities, leading to accusations that the policy granted undue benefits to liquor licensees.
The CBI alleges that liquor companies, part of a so-called “South Group,” paid kickbacks worth Rs 100 crore to AAP, which were then used for election campaigns. Both the AAP and Kejriwal have denied all charges.
The excise policy was scrapped in September 2022, following the allegations.
As Arvind Kejriwal now walks free, the political battle over the case is far from over, with upcoming elections likely to reignite the controversy surrounding the Delhi government’s excise policy.
