Arvind Kejriwal walks out of Tihar jail

New Delhi, Sep 13: Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal walked out of Tihar Jail on Friday evening after being in jail for nearly six months.

Kejriwal was granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with a corruption case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the alleged Delhi liquor scam.

Addressing a crowd of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters upon his release outside the jail “I thank God, with whose blessings I am standing here today, “ Kejriwal said,

Expressing his gratitude to his supporters as reported by the media. “I thank the lakhs and crores of people who came here in this heavy rainfall,” acknowledging the crowd that had been waiting for him despite the weather.

Kejriwal, speaking with determination, declared, “Every drop of my blood is dedicated to the nation. I faced difficulties, but God has always been with me.” He went on to assert that his time behind bars had only strengthened his resolve. “They put me in jail to break my morale, but my morale is higher than ever. Prisons cannot weaken me,” he said.

The release of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders in the Delhi excise policy case just ahead of Haryana and J&K elections marks an important development in politics, more so when the ruling government will be completing its first hundred days of the third term of BJP led NDA government.

The BJP on Friday called for the immediate resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him conditional bail in the excise policy ‘scam’ case.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “The Supreme Court has exposed Arvind Kejriwal’s dishonesty while granting him bail. He should resign without delay.”

Bhatia emphasized that Kejriwal remains an accused in the corruption case, noting that the court’s bail decision does not absolve him of the charges. “The charges have not been quashed, nor has he been acquitted,” the BJP leader added.

In a press conference by the Aam Aadmi Party after the Supreme Court ruling, AAP leaders criticised the BJP, accusing it of using investigative agencies like the CBI and ED as tools for political vendettas.

Speaking alongside Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodiaexpressed confidence that Kejriwal’s release would restore stability to the Delhi government and provide significant relief to the people of Delhi.

Sisodia stated, “The Supreme Court’s decision is not only crucial for AAP but also a message to the nation that justice will prevail over the misuse of investigative agencies.”

Sisodia also criticised the BJP’s efforts to target AAP through legal channels, accusing the ruling party of attempting to dismantle AAP using what he described as “unscrupulous conspiracies.”

Media agencies reported that Sanjay Singh, echoing these sentiments, directly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for attempting to smear Kejriwal’s name and destabilise the AAP government.

He said, “The BJP used CBI and ED to fabricate this case in order to break AAP and its leadership. However, the release of all leaders, including Kejriwal, has shattered their mountain of lies.”

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is expected to walk out of jail on Friday evening, after which the attention will shift to his role as a campaigner for the Haryana and J&K elections.

Media reports suggest that restrictions have been placed on Kejriwal’s duties as Chief Minister from visiting the secretariat, accessing his office, or signing files unless they require approval from the Lieutenant Governor.

However, Kejriwal is free to campaign. He faces no restrictions on travelling within the country or meeting people.

The charges against Kejriwal, which stem from allegations of favouring specific liquor lobbyists, have been central to the Delhi excise policy case.

The CBI initially arrested him in June 2023 after the ED took him into custody in March for his alleged involvement in money laundering related to the same case.

His arrest, described by his legal team as an “insurance arrest” to ensure he stayed in jail if granted bail in the ED case, was upheld by the Supreme Court, but bail was granted in this instance.

On Friday, the Supreme Court granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the fourth senior AAP leader to be released in connection with the case. This decision follows similar bail orders for former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, MP Sanjay Singh, and AAP’s communications head, Vijay Nair.

The case centres around accusations that political figures, including Kejriwal, manipulated the 2021-22 Delhi liquor policy to benefit certain liquor lobbyists in exchange for kickbacks, allegedly used to fund the party’s electoral campaigns.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are jointly probing the claims. Despite these allegations, the Supreme Court’s decision to release Kejriwal on bail has been portrayed by the AAP as a victory over what they describe as a” politically motivated attack by the BJP”.

The Supreme Court’s verdict granting bail came with observations on the role of investigative agencies. While the Court ruled that Kejriwal’s arrest was procedurally valid, it also expressed concerns over the broader misuse of investigative powers in politically charged cases as reported by Bar and Bench.

Kejriwal’s legal team had argued that his arrest violated provisions under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), but the Court disagreed, stating that the arrest was conducted according to the law.

This latest development further complicates the political landscape, with AAP leaders confident in their ability to turn the tide against the BJP in upcoming elections.

Despite these legal victories, the political ramifications of the case remain important. as the Delhi excise policy investigation continues to attract public attention.

The case was originally triggered by complaints from Delhi Lieutenant General VK Saxena, and while the excise policy has since been scrapped, its fallout has led to multiple arrests and high-profile bail hearings, drawing in both local and national political figures.

While the bail orders are a reprieve, the investigations by the CBI and ED are ongoing, and more legal challenges may lie ahead for Kejriwal and his colleagues. However, for now, the release of the fourth senior leader of AAP sends a powerful message, reinforcing the party’s defiance against what it perceives as politically motivated prosecutions.