The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy scam case on July 12. The decision was made by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, who have also referred Kejriwal’s appeal contesting his ED detention to a larger bench.
The Supreme Court emphasized that an arrest cannot be made solely on the basis of questioning. The court noted that Kejriwal has been incarcerated for over 90 days. “He is an elected leader and it is up to him whether he wants to continue in the role or not,” the SC stated while granting the bail.
Despite the interim bail, Kejriwal will remain in Tihar Jail due to a separate detention by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to the corruption case involving the alleged liquor policy.
Previously, on May 10, the Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 in the money laundering case, with the condition that he refrain from visiting the Office of the Chief Minister or the Delhi Secretariat. Kejriwal complied with this directive and surrendered on June 2.
The Supreme Court highlighted that the right to life is sacrosanct and directed Kejriwal’s release on interim bail. The larger bench will now decide on the necessity of arrests under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
