In a significant development, a Delhi Court on Thursday, June 20, granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the liquor policy scam case. The bail was granted on a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh, bringing a major relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leadership.
Kejriwal was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March this year. He had been out on bail during the Lok Sabha elections but surrendered himself on June 2. Following the court’s decision, Kejriwal, who has been lodged in Tihar jail, is expected to be released on Friday afternoon.
The bail decision is seen as a crucial boost for AAP, particularly as senior party leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain remain in jail. Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj highlighted the importance of lower courts delivering timely justice, noting, “Waiting till the Supreme Court for any relief in PMLA cases was stifling the entire justice system. Every case going to the Supreme Court was unnecessarily increasing the burden on the Supreme Court.”
The controversy stems from the Delhi government’s announcement of a new excise policy in November 2021, which allowed private companies to distribute liquor in the capital. The policy was later withdrawn following allegations of cartelisation and monopoly.
The ED has accused the AAP of receiving money from a liquor lobby in South India to implement the new excise policy, alleging that the party was a major beneficiary of these proceeds and labeling Kejriwal as “a key conspirator.” Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21 followed his repeated failure to respond to ED summons.