In a significant development for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. The Supreme Court’s decision, announced on Friday, marks a major legal victory for Kejriwal and his party.
The court had reserved its verdict on two petitions filed by Kejriwal on September 5. Along with his bail plea, Kejriwal had challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision upholding his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as “legal.” The Supreme Court granted bail on the condition that Kejriwal posts a Rs 10 lakh bond and provides two sureties of the same amount. Additionally, the court has restricted him from visiting his office, the Delhi Secretariat, or signing official files unless required for obtaining the Lieutenant Governor’s sanction.
The court’s decision also questioned the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI, suggesting that the agency’s actions might have been aimed at frustrating the grant of bail in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with money laundering charges related to the liquor policy scam. Despite receiving interim bail from the Supreme Court on July 12 in the ED probe, Kejriwal remained in custody due to his CBI arrest.
In related developments, Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia have also been granted bail in the same case. Sisodia, who was granted bail on August 9, had served a jail term of 1.5 years. During his bail hearing, the Supreme Court criticized the investigation process, emphasizing that bail should be the norm rather than imprisonment.
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The Aam Aadmi Party has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, calling it a “victory of truth.” The party has denied all allegations, claiming that the case is a fabrication by the “dictatorial” Narendra Modi government intended to harass opposition leaders through misuse of central probe agencies. With Kejriwal’s release, the AAP is now expected to shift its focus to the upcoming Haryana elections.
Background of the Case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleges that the AAP benefited from illicit funds through the alleged scam and has identified Kejriwal as a key figure in the case. The CBI claims that the AAP government sought a Rs 100 crore bribe from certain businessmen, referred to as the ‘south group,’ in exchange for altering the excise policy to their advantage. This bribe was purportedly used by the AAP during the Goa Assembly election campaign in 2022. K Kavitha is reportedly linked to this ‘south group.’ The investigation began following allegations of misconduct shortly after Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena took office in May 2022, leading to the rollback of the excise policy in July 2022.
