In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India on Friday, May 10, granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy scam case. The top court’s decision comes as a relief for Kejriwal, who sought bail citing his right to campaign for elections. The Supreme Court granted the bail on certain conditions and directed the chief minister to surrender to law enforcement authorities on June 1. The Aam Aadmi Party has welcomed the decision, calling it a victory of truth.
The five bail conditions the Supreme Court has placed on Arvind Kejriwal, include:
(1) The Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, is required to provide bail bonds worth Rs 50,000, along with one surety of the same amount, which must satisfy the Jail Superintendent.
(2) Arvind Kejriwal is prohibited from visiting the Chief Minister’s Office and the Delhi Secretariat.
(3) He shall be bound by the statement made on his behalf that he shall not sign official files unless it is required and necessary for obtaining clearance/approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (LG) VK Saxena.
(4) Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal is instructed not to make any comments regarding his involvement in the ongoing case, specifically the Delhi liquor policy case, for which he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21.
(5) Arvind Kejriwal is prohibited from interacting with any of the witnesses and/or having access to any official files connected with the Delhi liquor police case.
The court has set several conditions for the bail, including the submission of a Rs. 50,000 bail bond with one surety of the same amount to the satisfaction of the Jail Superintendent. Additionally, Kejriwal is not permitted to visit the Office of the Chief Minister or the Delhi Secretariat, and he is only allowed to sign official files when necessary for obtaining clearance or approval from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
The Supreme Court emphasised that the grant of interim bail should not be considered as an opinion on the merits of the case or the pending criminal appeal. The court took into account that Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi and a leader of a national party. The court also noted that although serious accusations have been made, Kejriwal has not been convicted and does not have any criminal antecedents, nor does he pose a threat to society.
Reacting to the bail granted to Kejriwal, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticised the decision, stating that no respectable person would accept such bail conditions. He questioned the nature of the bail, which allows Kejriwal to go but requires him to return on June 2.
