Six months after being arrested in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case. Despite the unanimous bail decision, the two presiding judges disagreed on the legality of his arrest. Justice Surya Kant upheld the arrest but emphasised the principle that prolonged imprisonment unjustly deprives liberty. Conversely, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan criticised the CBI, stating that Kejriwal’s arrest appeared “unjustified” and was seemingly intended to delay his release.
Kejriwal’s release follows similar bail grants to AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and others involved in the case. The AAP leader’s freedom is seen as a significant political boost ahead of upcoming elections in Haryana and Delhi, with his party aiming to secure another term in the latter. As part of the bail conditions, Kejriwal must refrain from discussing the case publicly and is prohibited from visiting the Delhi Secretariat.
Kejriwal’s arrest was described as a strategic move by the CBI, with Kejriwal’s defence arguing that he posed no flight risk or threat to the evidence. The CBI, however, contended that kickbacks from the liquor policy were used in AAP’s 2022 Goa election campaign.
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