Arvind Kejriwal gets bail: In a major relief for the Delhi Chief Minister, the Supreme on Friday granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case stemming from the Delhi excise policy case.
Kejriwal had filed his petitions seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), calling it “illegal” in the excise policy case.
The SC bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, stated that the “Arrest by the CBI also does not suffer from any procedural infirmity”, Live Law reported. However, the Supreme Court said that the belated arrest by the CBI was unjustified and asserted that prolonged imprisonment “amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty”.
Also Read: Delhi Excise Policy Scam: SC reserves order on Arvind Kejriwal’s pleas seeking interim bail, challenging CBI arrest
Justice Kant said, “Appellant’s arrest does not suffer from illegality. On bail, we have discussed briefly. Basic principle is…issue is of liberty…integral to sensitized judicial process. Prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty.”
“Completion of trial unlikely to occur in immediate future. Dealt with prosecution’s apprehension on tampering. Rejecting those, we have concluded…appellant satisfies test for bail. We order accordingly,” the bench said, Live Law reported.
“We do not deem necessary at this stage to relegate appellant to TC. Criminal appeal as challenging legality to arrest, we have declined. As regards bail, we have allowed appeal. HC set aside. Directed to be released on bail,” the court added.
The bench had reserved its verdict on September 5.
The Delhi CM was arrested on March 21 in the money laundering case stemming from the alleged liquor policy scam by the Enforcement Directorate. He was formally arrested by the CBI on June 26.
He was granted bail in the ED case on July 12 by the Supreme Court but he could not walk out of jail as he was also arrested by the CBI.