Delhi excise policy case: Arvind Kejriwal granted interim bail till June 1

Delhi excise policy case: In a major development, the Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to AAP supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal till June 1. He was arrested under a money-laundering case in connection to the Delhi excise policy. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested the Delhi CM in March. The Supreme Court has asked him to surrender on June 2. 

A two-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, continued the hearing on the matter on Saturday, which announced the final verdict, giving much needed relief to the Delhi CM in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

The case

The origins of the case against Arvind Kejriwal and others implicated in the Delhi excise policy case trace back to 2022, when the CBI had lodged an FIR alleging manipulation of the Delhi excise policy of 2021-22 allegedly to allow the monopolisation and cartelisation of the wholesale and retail liquor trade in Delhi.

The Enforcement Directorate has accused Arvind Kejriwal of conspiring to create loopholes in the now-defunct excise policy, purportedly intended to benefit specific liquor vendors.

According to the CBI and ED, certain persons or groups from South India profited from these policy loopholes, with some of their gains allegedly funneled to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for campaigning during the Goa Assembly elections.

Kejriwal is among several political figures arrested in connection with the case, including former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, and BRS  leader K Kavitha. While Sanjay Singh is out on bail, Manish Sisodia and Kavitha are still in jail. 

Arvind Kejriwal had moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest and detention following the dismissal of his petition by the Delhi High Court.

During earlier court proceedings, a Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta had hinted at considering whether Arvind Kejriwal should be granted interim bail in the wake of the Lok Sabha election seasons, albeit with the condition that he refrains from performing any official duties as Chief Minister.