All eyes are on the Supreme Court on Friday, September 13, as it is set to deliver its verdict on the bail plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the controversial excise policy case. The judgment, anticipated around 10:30 AM, will determine whether Kejriwal will be granted bail after nearly six months in custody.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, has already written their judgments in the case. Two separate judgments will be pronounced regarding the petitions filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the CBI and seeking bail. This comes after the bench reserved its verdict on September 5.
Kejriwal’s journey through the legal system has been complex. Initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam, he was granted interim bail. However, his imprisonment continued due to the CBI case. He was subsequently arrested by the CBI on June 26 while in ED custody.
Kejriwal’s legal team, led by prominent lawyer Abhishek Singhvi, argues that all other co-accused in the excise policy case have been released on bail, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislator K Kavitha, and Vijay Nair, former communication in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party. Sanjay Singh, another AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member, was released on bail in April 2024.
If the Supreme Court rules in Kejriwal’s favor, he would be the fifth and most high-profile opposition leader to be released from jail after being arrested in this case. It would also mark a significant development in the ongoing political battle surrounding the Delhi liquor excise policy.
The allegations center around Kejriwal and the AAP receiving kickbacks of ₹100 crore, including significant payments from a ‘South group’ led by BRS leader K Kavitha, in exchange for allotting wholesale liquor licenses. Both the ED and CBI contend that this money was used to fund AAP election campaigns, including the 2022 Goa Assembly election.
The Supreme Court’s decision will have significant implications for the political landscape of Delhi and the nation. With the judgment just hours away, all eyes are on the apex court to see whether Kejriwal will finally be granted bail and released from custody.