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Synopsis

The Supreme Court of India has today granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi liquor policy scam noting that he has been incarcerated for over 90 days.

"He is the Chief Minister of a state and the elected leader. Considering his right to life and liberty and the fact that he has been in jail for over 90 days, we are of the view that Kejriwal is entitled to be released on INTERIM BAIL...", Justice Sanjiv Khanna pronounced today in court.

Notably, the question on his arrest and remand to the ED have been referred to a larger bench for consideration.

In May, the Enforcement directorate had informed Supreme Court that personal chats between Arvind Kejriwal and hawala operators have been discovered by them.

It is ED's case that Kejriwal had demanded 100 crores during Goa elections which was later utilized through hawala transactions.

While granting relief to Kejriwal earlier too, on May 10, Supreme Court of India had granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal allowing him to campaign for Aam Aadmi Party in the General Elections, 2024.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 late evening. He has been in ED's custody since. ED had conducted searches at Delhi Chief Minister's residence following the Delhi High Court's decision to deny him protection from coercive action in an excise policy-related money laundering case.

The case against Kejriwal & allies involves allegations of corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of Delhi's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped. 

Meanwhile, upon arrest, outside Kejriwal's residence, a crowd gathered, including AAP MLAs and party leaders, protesting the ED's actions. AAP leaders criticized the BJP and ED, alleging political conspiracy and misuse of power to target Kejriwal.

Case Title: ARVIND KEJRIWAL vs. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT