Supreme Court grants bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal; upholds arrest by CBI in excise policy scam case

Arvind Kejriwal gets to walk out of jail ahead of key state elections with terms and conditions

In a significant development for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court granted him bail on Friday in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. The decision marks a major relief for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who has been entangled in legal battles over the past months.

The court, led by Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, approved Kejriwal’s bail plea. However, it also dismissed a separate plea challenging the legality of his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Justice Bhuyan authored a separate opinion, questioning the timing of the arrest and deeming the “belated arrest” by the CBI unjustified.

Last week, the Supreme Court reserved its decision after hearing arguments from senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, who appeared for the CBI. Singhvi argued that the CBI’s decision to arrest Kejriwal, despite a two-year delay, appeared to be an “insurance arrest” aimed at preventing his release in a related money laundering case. He emphasized that Kejriwal’s arrest was due to alleged non-cooperation and evasive responses and that cooperation should not entail self-incrimination.

Singhvi also highlighted that Kejriwal, holding the high office of Delhi Chief Minister, met the criteria for bail: he was not a flight risk, would cooperate with the investigation, and could not tamper with the extensive documentation and digital evidence.

In contrast, ASG Raju contended that releasing Kejriwal might lead to witnesses becoming “hostile,” and argued against granting bail, suggesting that the case should be remanded to the trial court. Raju asserted that arrest is a standard part of the investigative process and that the CBI’s actions were in line with a court order granting arrest power.

The Supreme Court’s decision follows recent bail grants to other senior AAP figures and political leaders, including former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K Kavitha, and AAP’s former communication-in-charge Vijay Nair, all connected to the excise policy case.

Notably, Kejriwal had been granted interim bail on July 12 in a related money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), but his release had been stalled due to the CBI’s arrest. With the Supreme Court’s latest ruling, Kejriwal’s legal entanglements continue to evolve as the investigation progresses.

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