New Delhi : Supreme Court on Friday stated that it will grant interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor policy case till June 1.

The bench noted that the liquor policy case was registered in August 2022 and Kejriwal was arrested only in March 2024 after nearly one and half years. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 and has been under custody ever since.

For the first time, the Bench had shown an inclination to consider the question of interim bail for Kejriwal on May 3. Putting ASG Raju to notice, the bench had said that it may consider interim bail for the AAP chief in view of Lok Sabha Elections if the hearing gets delayed. On subsequent dates, vehement opposition to the grant of interim bail was shown by SG Tushar Mehta and ASG Raju, who argued that the ED had “evidence” against Kejriwal and election campaigning ought not to be a criteria for considering grant of interim bail.

The bench however had observed that it was dealing with the case of an elected Chief Minister, not a habitual offender, and the general elections take place only once in 5 years. It however made clear that if an interim release was directed, Kejriwal would not be allowed to perform official duties, as that would have a cascading effect.

ED had filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court yesterday, opposing the grant of interim bail to Kejriwal. Today, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta submitted that Amrit Pal Singh, accused in a UAPA case over Khalistani activities, has also approached the Court for bail to contest in elections. SG stated that grant of bail to Kejriwal on the ground of elections will create a cascading effect.

“That(Amrit Pal Singh case) is something different,” Justice Khanna said. SG said that there are no precedents for releasing a person for campaigning when he himself is not a candidate.

“Let us not put on a straightjacket like that. We are passing an order giving him interim relief till June 1, 2024..we will upload the order by evening,” Justice Khanna said.

(Courtesy Live Law)