New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail by the Supreme Court on September 13, 2024, after spending six months in custody over his alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy scam.
The bail was granted despite the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposing his release, with Kejriwal facing accusations of receiving kickbacks from liquor lobbyists in exchange for favorable policy tweaks in 2021-22.
These funds were allegedly used to finance AAP's election campaign in Goa, they claimed.
The Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Surya Kant, noted that prolonged incarceration without concluding the trial was unjustified.
The court emphasized the need for developed bail jurisprudence, ruling in favor of liberty when the trial is delayed.
However, the court imposed strict conditions, barring Kejriwal from making any public comments on the case and requiring his presence at all trial hearings.
This development comes as Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir prepare for state assembly elections, where Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is trying to enter in fray mainly in Haryana.