Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal secured a partial victory in his legal battle on Friday when the Supreme Court upheld his bail granted last month by a trial court. This bail had been paused by the High Court. Despite this favorable ruling, Arvind Kejriwal remains in jail. Let’s find out why.
Notably, he was arrested in a separate arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to the same alleged liquor policy scam.
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Arvind Kejriwal’s bail conditions
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta laid out specific conditions for Kejriwal’s release:
- Arvind Kejriwal is prohibited from visiting his office or the Delhi Secretariat during his release period.
- He cannot sign official files unless necessary for obtaining clearance or approval from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
- Kejriwal must furnish bail bonds worth Rs 50,000 and a surety of the same amount.
- He is directed not to interact with any witnesses or access any official files related to the case.
These conditions mirror those imposed when the Supreme Court granted him interim bail to campaign in the election.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court grants interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal, but Delhi CM to stay in jail
Supreme Court refuses to rule on Kejriwal’s resignation
The Supreme Court had earlier refrained from making a ruling on demands for Kejriwal’s resignation, citing doubts over the court’s authority to direct an elected leader to step down.
The court had stated, “We are conscious Arvind Kejriwal is an elected leader and the Chief Minister of Delhi… a post holding importance and influence. We do not give any direction… as we are doubtful if a court can direct an elected leader to step down, or not to function as a Chief Minister or a Minister… We leave it to Arvind Kejriwal to make the call.”
Ongoing demands and legal petitions
Since his arrest, Kejriwal has faced numerous calls for resignation, primarily from opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers. His party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has consistently dismissed these demands, arguing that the charges against him are unfounded.
Multiple public interest litigations (PILs) have been filed in both the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, seeking to compel Kejriwal to step down. In May, the Supreme Court dismissed one such plea, stating it had “no legal merit” and that the Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena “doesn’t need our guidance… we are nobody to advise him.”
