In a significant legal development, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy scam. Kejriwal, who had been in custody for nearly six months, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March 2024 and later by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On September 13th 2024, the Supreme Court, while granting bail, noted that his prolonged detention was an “unjust deprivation of liberty” and stated that “bail is the rule, jail is the exception.”
Conditions Imposed by the Supreme Court
Kejriwal’s bail comes with a set of five conditions, which include:
- He cannot return to his office at the Delhi Secretariat or sign any official files without the consent of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.
- He is barred from making any public statements or building a narrative around the excise policy case.
- He cannot influence or interact with witnesses related to the case.
- He is required to furnish a bail bond of ₹50,000.
- He must be present for trial proceedings unless granted an exemption by the court
Kejriwal’s arrest stems from allegations related to the now-scrapped 2021-22 Delhi excise policy, which allegedly led to financial irregularities. The policy, designed to restructure the liquor licensing process in the capital, was later withdrawn amid claims of corruption and irregularities. Both the ED and CBI have been investigating the case, with Kejriwal being accused of money laundering and mismanagement during the formulation of the policy.
Despite these charges, Kejriwal’s legal team argued that the case lacked sufficient evidence for his extended detention. The Supreme Court agreed, raising concerns over the CBI’s actions and questioning the legality of his prolonged arrest.
Kejriwal will remain under close scrutiny, both by the judiciary and the public, as the court-ordered restrictions on his activities limit his role in the Delhi government. As the CBI and ED investigation continues into allegations of money laundering, the case remains a high-profile legal battle, keeping Kejriwal under intense judicial scrutiny while sparking discussions on the balance between political power and accountability.
