New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday bestowed the title of Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal. He was granted temporary bail until June 1 to enable him to take part in the ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign.
Kejriwal, who was arrested in a money laundering case related to the GST policy scam, will be back in jail on June 2, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said.
The Supreme Court is hearing Kejriwal’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court order upholding his arrest for alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the now-defunct GST policy for 2021-22 and he was arrested.
The five leading conditions for bail by Supreme Court from Kejriwal:
On behalf of Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi sought extension of interim bail till June 5, a day after the June 4 polls but this appeal has been rejected by bench. Therefore, Kejriwal had to surrender on June 2nd.
The Supreme Court banned him from visiting his office as a chief minister and also entering into secretariat at all. According to what was reported here “the Supreme Court said”.
Also court-directed Kejriwal should not discuss his involvement in GST policy scam-related money laundering case.
To get release from Tihar Jail, he has to pay bail amounting Rupees fifty thousand along with some surety worth same amount.
“Sworn affidavit affirming that he shall not interact with any witness or that he shall not access any official document relating to this matter,” Supreme Court directed concerning Kejriwal. “He will not make any comment regarding his role in this case; nor will he interact with any witnesses and/or review any official documents related to this case,” said the highest court.
Here are other key points from the judgment:
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate, opposed interim bail for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief during the polls on grounds that there was no precedent.
The bench stated that 21-day interim bail for Kejriwal would have no major bearing on the case pointing out that August 2022 saw ED registering its Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and March 21, 2023 as the date he was arrested. “He (Kejriwal) stayed there for one-and-a-half years,” added court.
According to Supreme Court, granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal cannot be understood as expressing an opinion regarding the merits of his cases.
Supreme Court said: The decision of granting him bail does not mean that he is innocent of these charges or we have expressed an opinion in his favor.
“Arvind Kejriwal does not have any criminal record and does not pose a threat to society. The holistic and liberal view is reasonable in view of the Lok Sabha elections.” While granting bail to the Delhi Chief Minister, the Supreme Court said.
