Big relief for Arvind Kejriwal as SC grants interim bail till June 1 for campaigning for election

The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal till June 1, allowing him to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls before surrendering on June 2 in the excise policy money laundering case.

In a major relief for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him interim bail till June 1 so that he can campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. 

The bench headed by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta passed an order that Kejriwal, who is currently in judicial custody after being arrested last month in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam, will have to surrender on June 2 after the campaigning ends. 

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea by Kejriwal challenging the Delhi High Court's judgment, which had upheld his arrest in connection with an alleged corruption and money laundering case related to the design of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. 

At the hearing, Kejriwal's lawyer Abhishek Singhvi applied for interim bail till 5th June which was a day after the counting on 4th June. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court turned down the request. 

The interim bail granted to 54-year-old Kejriwal gives him a chance to take part in the remaining Lok Sabha election rallies and corner meetings until he surrenders on June 2. 

The arrest of Kejriwal on April 16 caused protests by AAP supporters who considered it an infringement of democracy and a method of the ruling BJP at the Centre to suppress the opposition parties. 

Also Read: SC Terminates ED Over 'Delay' in Arvind Kejriwal Investigation, Asks Why Can't the ACC Be Granted

The case of excise policy is about alleged corruption in the making and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22. Kejriwal was named as an accused in the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the money laundering case.