Supreme Court Grants Bail To CM Kejriwal; Restricts Public Comments

The Supreme Court granted bail to CM Kejriwal on Friday in the corruption case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. The Court set specific conditions for his release.

Justice Surya Kant, leading a two-judge bench, dismissed Kejriwal’s plea challenging the legality of his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Justice Kant found “no merit” in claims that the CBI violated procedural laws during the arrest. He noted that the FIR was registered in August 2022, with four supplementary charge sheets filed, 17 accused named, over 200 witnesses identified, and extensive documents submitted. He highlighted that the trial is unlikely to conclude soon, making prolonged detention unjust.

The Court ordered Kejriwal’s release on bail, requiring him to furnish bail bonds of Rs 10 lakh and two sureties of the same amount. Additionally, Kejriwal must avoid making public comments about the case. He must attend every court hearing unless granted an exemption and fully cooperate with the trial court for an expeditious trial.

Also Read: Supreme Court Grants Bail To Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal In Liquor Policy Case

Jutice Ujjal Bhuyan reprimanded CBI during bail to CM Kejriwal

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, who concurred with the bail decision, raised questions about the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest. He criticized the CBI for not arresting Kejriwal for 22 months and suggested that the arrest might have been aimed at undermining the bail granted in a related money laundering case. Justice Bhuyan expressed serious reservations about the conditions barring Kejriwal from entering Delhi’s secretariat or signing official documents but refrained from further comment due to judicial propriety.

Conditions by SC, what Kejriwal can, cannot do

Supreme Court of India has put some conditions on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to prevent tampering of evidence as it granted bail to Kejriwal in Delhi Excise Policy case.

• Kejriwal is expected to not to make public comment regarding the case.
• Cannot establish connection or relation with any of the witnesses in Delhi Excise Policy Case
• Kejriwal  can Participate in the campaigning of Haryana Assembly Polls
• CM Arvind Kejriwal can not visit his office or Delhi Secretariat.
• Kejriwal is prohibited to sign an official document until his signature becomes mandatory to ascertain LG’s approval on certain subject.
• Along with aforementioned conditions, terms and conditions imposed by coordinate Bench during ED case shall continue to exist.

Last week, the Supreme Court reserved its decision after hearing arguments from senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for Kejriwal and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju for the CBI. Singhvi argued that the CBI’s arrest was an “insurance arrest” made hastily to prevent Kejriwal’s release in the money laundering case. He claimed that Kejriwal satisfied the triple test for bail: not being a flight risk, likely to cooperate, and unable to tamper with evidence.