Supreme Court Approves Bail for Arvind Kejriwal Amid Delhi Excise Policy Controversy.
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi 13, September 2024.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been imprisoned for nearly six months. This decision comes after prolonged legal battles and is a notable shift in the high-profile liquor excise policy case.
On Friday morning, Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Suryakant delivered separate judgments, ultimately agreeing that Kejriwal should be released from custody. Justice Bhuyan questioned the timing of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) actions, noting that the agency’s intensified scrutiny followed a prior bail granted by the trial court in a related Enforcement Directorate (ED) case. Justice Suryakant, however, did not find any legal impediment to the CBI’s arrest but echoed concerns about the prolonged incarceration.
The Supreme Court’s ruling underscores the principle that bail is the rule and imprisonment is the exception. The court highlighted that Kejriwal’s continued detention, despite already being granted bail in the ED case, amounted to an unjust deprivation of liberty. This perspective aligns with the precedent set in 1977 by Justice Krishna Iyer, which affirms the presumption of bail even in cases involving stringent laws like the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Kejriwal’s release follows similar decisions for other political figures, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Telangana politician K. Kavitha, who were granted bail under comparable circumstances.
As Kejriwal prepares to leave prison, he is restricted from visiting his office or signing documents without the consent of Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, V.K. Saxena. The Supreme Court’s decision is being celebrated by Kejriwal’s supporters, who view it as a victory against alleged political targeting.
Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, has been vocal in her criticism of the BJP, alleging that the party’s tactics aimed to suppress opposition leaders and consolidate power.
