The Supreme Court on May 10 granted interim bail to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, nearly two months after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an excise policy case.
Opposition leaders welcomed the decision that allows the Aam Aadmi Party chief to remain out of jail till June 1, when the polling will end for the Lok Sabha elections. He will have to surrender on June 2.
Delhi’s all seven seats will be voted for on May 25 and Punjab’s 13 seats on June 1.
The top court, however, rejected Kejriwal’s request to grant him relief till the declaration of results on June 4.
Reacting to the development, Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi said that the apex court has played a key role in protecting democracy. "It is not just Arvind Kejriwal who has got interim bail but by this decision of Supreme Court, truth has triumphed. This is a win of the democracy and Constitution. The SC has played a major role in protecting democracy," Atishi said while addressing a press conference post the SC verdict.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said that Kejriwal's interim bail is a huge sign of winds of change in the country. "Arvind Kejriwal ji getting justice and relief against 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 said.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said Kejriwal's presence would be of great help during the elections. "I am very happy to see that Arvind Kejriwal has got interim bail. It will be very helpful in the context of the current elections," the Trinamool Congress chief posted on the X platform.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also welcomed the order, saying he expected the same for former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren. "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," he said.
Kejriwal’s AAP is part of the opposition INDIA bloc, which also has the Congress and Trinamool.
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