Supreme Court order to release Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal on bail

Chief Minister Kejriwal appealed in the Supreme Court against the arrest made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Supreme Court bench of Justices Suryakant and Ujjal Bhuiyan has ordered the release of Kejriwal. Although the

hearing ended on September 5, the court reserved its verdict. The Supreme Court has said that Kejriwal has been released on bail keeping in mind 'personal freedom' as there is no possibility of a full hearing immediately.

Judge Bhuiyan has said that the basis on which Kejriwal has been detained by CBI and (Enforcement Directorate) ED is a mockery of justice. Similarly, Judge Bhuiyan's comments raised serious questions about the fact that he was not arrested for more than 22 months before the election.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders have responded that Kejriwal will be released on bail of Rs 10 lakh by Friday evening. Chief Minister Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI while he was in the custody of the ED. In view of the Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court on May 10 granted interim bail to Kejriwal for 21 days for election campaign. Recently, the Supreme Court ordered the release of Sarsat Kejriwal.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Last month, the Supreme Court of India ordered the release of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia. Sisodia came out after spending almost 17 months in jail after the Supreme Court ordered his release on conditional bail. Similarly, the influential leader of the party, Sanjay Singh, has also been released on bail.

What is the alleged alcohol corruption case?

The Delhi government introduced a new policy on liquor sales three years ago. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in the role of opposition in Delhi, has surrounded the Kejriwal government calling this policy a 'policy scam'. By 2021, 60 percent of liquor sellers in Delhi were government-owned and 40 percent were private traders. However, the Kejriwal government brought a new policy and gave the entire responsibility of liquor sales and distribution to the private sector.

In this case, the Delhi government is accused of corruption of more than 100 crores. The Kejriwal government withdrew the policy after a year after allegations of corruption and controversy arose. ED has been investigating the same case. A year ago, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by ED in the same case. A few months ago, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was also arrested. Both of them have been released on bail. Apart from the liquor policy scam, the ED is also questioning Kejriwal for alleged corruption in the Delhi Jal Board.

Chief Minister Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have been accusing the ED's actions of being directed by the BJP. He has accused the BJP-led central government of using government probe agencies against other parties and leaders.