In a big relief to Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court has granted him bail in the corruption case linked to the excise policy ‘scam’
While granting the bail, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan observed, “The CBI’s arrest was perhaps only to frustrate the grant of bail to Kejriwal in the Enforcement Directorate case.”
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan granted the relief to Kejriwal on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 10 lakh, and two sureties of like amount.
Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case on March 21, was granted interim bail on May 10 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls and has been in jail since June 2 when he surrendered.
The top court directed Kejriwal not to make any public comment on the merits of the case and added that terms and conditions as imposed in the ED case would also be applicable here.
The top court, while granting him bail in the ED case, had said that Kejriwal cannot visit his office or the Delhi Secretariat and not sign any official file unless absolutely necessary to obtain the Lieutenant Governor’s sanction.
Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal reacting to SC ruling told ANI , “BJP’s plans have been washed away. They want to jail the Opposition leaders and stay in power. Their only goal is this…”
Justice Ujjal Bhuya said that the CBI must dispel notion of being a caged parrot, must show it is an uncaged parrot.
He also observed that non-cooperation cannot mean self-incrimination. The CBI cannot justify arrest and continue detention citing evasive replies by Kejriwal, he added.
Justice Bhuyan said it would be travesty of justice to keep Kejriwal in custody when he has got bail in ED case on same grounds.
Former Delhi Deputy CM & AAP leader Manish Sisodia addressing media quoted by ANI said , “… The BJP has been misusing the agencies to keep Arvind Kejriwal jailed… The Supreme Court said today that the way the CBI arrested Arvind Kejriwal, it became clear that the CBI arrested him intending to keep him jailed… And as Kejriwal has not done anything wrong, then who’s intention was this? It was of the BJP… That is why he was arrested by the CBI when he was going to the released in the ED case. The CBI did not arrest him because of any corruption but because the BJP wanted it… The Supreme Court has also approved of this today… The BJP got exposed in the SC today…”
Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai quoted by ANI said , “Everyone is excited. All the party leaders and workers are going to the party office. They will go to the jail at 4 pm, receive Arvind Kejriwal there and then go to the CM’s house…”
