Arvind Kejriwal gets interim bail, but will remain in jail

The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal after he challenged his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam in Delhi. He will, however, remain in jail as he was also arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on June 26 in connection with the corruption case linked to the scam.

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta referred Arvind Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a larger bench. Pronouncing the verdict, the Supreme Court said that mere interrogation does not allow arrest.

"Given that the right to life is concerned and since the matter is referred to a larger bench, we direct Arvind Kejriwal to be released on interim bail," Justice Khanna said. The bench, however, clarified that the question of interim bail could be modified by the larger bench.

"Arvind Kejriwal has suffered incarceration for more than 90 days. He is an elected leader, and it is up to him whether he wants to continue in the role or not," the court further said.

The same Supreme Court bench had in May granted interim bail to Kejriwal for two weeks to enable him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. The AAP supremo had returned to Tihar Jail after his bail period was over.

On June 20, a trial court in Delhi granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal and ordered his release. Special Judge Niyay Bindu said that the ED had failed to give any direct evidence linking Kejriwal to the proceeds of the crime.

The court had also said that the ED was acting with bias against Kejriwal. However, the order was stayed by the Delhi High Court on June 25. The same day he was arrested by the CBI in a corruption case arising out of the alleged liquor policy scam.