With polling yet to take place in 18 of the 22 Lok Sabha constituencies where AAP is contesting election as part of INDIA bloc, the court order to grant interim bail to Delhi CM Kejriwal to enable him to campaign has come as a shot in the arm for the party. A report by Mudit Mathur
Brushing aside the strong objections raised by Enforcement Directorate, the Supreme Court finally granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is imprisoned in connection with Delhi liquor policy scam case, allowing him to do campaigning for his Aam Aadmi Party in Lok Sabha polls till June 1st, 2024 but with certain restrictions imposed on him. He will have to surrender on the 2nd of June, 2024 after the last phase of polling.
The court order came as a shot in the arm of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which was anxious about the prospects of its leader Kejriwal leading the party’s poll campaign. The court verdict has re-energized the party cadre in Delhi and Punjab where the polls are due to be held during the sixth and seventh phase respectively. Polling is yet to take place in 18 of the 22 Lok Sabha constituencies that the AAP is contesting as part of INDIA bloc.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal came out of Tihar Jail seconds before 7 pm on Friday after spending around 50 days in custody in an alleged case of money laundering linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. “I am feeling very good being here. I had said that I would return soon; so here I am,” Kejriwal, clad in a grey T-shirt, said while addressing the cheering party workers. While thanking Lord Hanuman, Kejriwal announced that he would visit Connaught Place’s Hanuman Temple for the god’s blessings.
In his first reaction just after coming out from prison, Kejriwal said, “Hum sabko mil kar desh ko taanashahi se bachana hai, (We all have to unite to save the country from dictatorship)”. “Main tann, mann, dhan se lad raha hoon, sangharsh kar raha hoon, taanashahi ke khilaaf. Lekin 140 crore logon ko taanashahi se ladna padega,” (I’m fighting against dictatorship with all my might, but 140 crore people will have to do the same),” he added.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Dutta directed his release on following terms and conditions: (a) he shall furnish bail bonds in the sum of Rs.50,000/- with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the Jail Superintendent; (b) he shall not visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat; (c) he shall be bound by the statement made on his behalf that he shall not sign official files unless it is required and necessary for obtaining clearance/approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi; (d) he will not make any comment concerning his role in the present case; and (e) he will not interact with any of the witnesses and/or have access to any official files connected with the case.
