Hours after the Supreme Court granted interim bail to jailed Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Friday till June 1, several leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc hailed the top court’s order to allow the Delhi Chief Minister to participate in political activities and campaign for the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged excise policy scam, was granted relief from jail after several rejections from the Delhi High Court.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, presiding over a two-judge bench with Justice Dipankar Datta, orally stated, “We are passing an order granting him interim release until June 1, 2024.” The court made it clear that Kejriwal would have to surrender upon the expiry of the interim bail term.

Also Read:In big relief for Kejriwal, Supreme Court grants interim bail till June 1

INDIA bloc hails Kerjiwal’s bail

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, who is one of the key members of the INDIA alliance, expressed happiness over the Supreme Court verdict.

In a post on X, CM Mamata said, “I am very happy to see that Shri Arvind Kejriwal @ArvindKejriwal has been granted interim bail. It will be very helpful in the context of the current elections.”

Also Read: ‘Tihar jail authorities lying under political pressure’: Kejriwal on insulin matter

Congress hails Supreme Court order

The Congress party also welcomed the decision and expressed hope that justice is served to other Opposition leaders as well. Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “We welcome the intervention by the Supreme Court in granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal… We hope that the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, also gets due justice.”

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat also welcomed the Supreme Court decision, claiming it to be a tight slap on the face of the probe agencies. “SC’s decision is a tight slap on the face of the ED & central government. The central government has used ED as a political agency against the opposition party… When you arrest an elected CM, what kind of level playing field is it?” Karat said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray, son of Uddhav Bal Thackeray, took to his official handle on X and wrote, “@ArvindKejriwalji getting justice and relief against the dictatorial regime in the country is a huge sign of winds of change. He has been speaking the truth and that is what the BJP dislikes.”

“More power to him and the INDIA alliance for Bharat. We will protect our Constitution and democracy!” he added in his post on X.

‘Satyamev Jayate’: AAP welcomes Kejriwal

The AAP also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant interim bail to Kejriwal and said truth can be troubled but not defeated. “Truth can be troubled but not defeated. The decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court is welcome. The dictatorship will end. Satyamev Jayate,” AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said in a post on X.

AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak told PTI, “We welcome the Supreme Court order. Satyamev Jayate! The dictatorship will end.”

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said, “It is not just Arvind Kejriwal who has been granted interim bail, but by the Supreme Court’s decision, truth has triumphed. This is a win for democracy & the Constitution… The SC has played a major role in protecting democracy…”