The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till June 1 in a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy. Kejriwal, who had been in jail since March 21, was ordered to surrender on June 2.
The court’s decision came in response to a petition filed by Kejriwal, who had argued that the Enforcement Directorate’s case against him was politically motivated and that he had already spent enough time in jail. The Directorate had alleged that Kejriwal had received kickbacks from the sale of liquor licenses in Delhi.
Kejriwal’s release on bail was welcomed by opposition parties that are seeking to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the ongoing Lok Sabha election. The AAP convener had been a vocal critic of the Modi government and his arrest had been seen as an attempt to silence him.
The Supreme Court’s decision has set the stage for a high-stakes legal battle between the AAP and the BJP in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha election. The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the political landscape of India.
