Supreme Court Grants Bail to Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi Excise Policy Case
Major relief for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal as SC questions the timing of his arrest, granting him bail after six months in custody.
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who has been in custody since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March and later by the CBI in June, has been granted release just ahead of the Haryana elections.
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The court, while granting bail, made critical remarks about the actions of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It stated that although there was no violation of the arrest process, the timing of the CBI’s actions raised questions. The SC emphasized the need for the CBI to maintain a perception of neutrality, saying, “The CBI must dispel the notion of being a caged parrot.”
Justice Surya Kant noted that there was no legal barrier to Kejriwal’s arrest, but Justice Ujjal Bhuyan raised concerns, pointing out that the CBI had not sought his custody for over 22 months until after his ED arrest was stayed, which created doubt about the timing and intention behind the arrest. The court also stated that the trial process should not become a form of punishment.
Additionally, the court instructed Kejriwal to refrain from making public comments about the case and to attend all trial hearings unless granted exemption.
