Excise policy scam: Court grants bail to Arvind Kejriwal in money laundering case

NEW DELHI: In a major relief to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Rouse Avenue court on Thursday granted him bail almost three months after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy “scam.”

Special judge Niyay Bindu also declined the ED's prayer to keep in abeyance the bail order for 48 hours to allow the Central agency to appeal against it before a superior court.

The judge ordered Mr Kejriwal’s release on a personal bond of `1 lakh. She, however, imposed certain conditions on the AAP leader before granting him relief, including that he will not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses. The judge also directed Mr Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation.

Mr Kejriwal is expected to come out of Delhi’s Tihar jail after he furnishes the bail bond before the Rouse Avenue court on Friday. “Once we get the release order from the court, Mr Kejriwal can walk out of jail,” a senior Tihar prison officer told this newspaper.

After the Rouse Avenue court order, the Delhi CM will remain imprisoned only if the high court or the Supreme Court stays his bail order.

The money laundering case against Mr Kejriwal is an offshoot of a corruption case filed by the CBI in the excise policy matter. After the CBI case, the ED stepped in and arrested the Delhi CM on March 2.

The Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Mr Kejriwal just a day after it had extended his judicial custody till July 3.

Earlier in the day, the judge had reserved the order on his bail plea after hearing the ED, which sought to link him to the alleged proceeds of crime and co-accused. The defence had, however, claimed that the prosecution had no evidence to nail the AAP leader.

The grant of regular bail to Mr Kejriwal will give the AAP and its allies a stick to beat the Modi government, as bail under the stringent PMLA can be granted only if the judge is prima facie satisfied that the accused has not committed the offence and that he is unlikely to commit any offence while on bail.

Buoyed by the court order, the AAP supporters burst into celebratory mood. A large number of party supporters also burst fire crackers outside the chief minister’s residence.

In her post on X, AAP leader Atishi wrote, "Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs).” Feeling vindicated, the AAP on its official social media handle on X said: “Truth can be troubled, not defeated. Rejecting all the objections raised by the BJP's ED, the Honourable Court has granted bail to Delhi chief minister @ArvindKejriwal.”

Punjab chief minister and senior AAP leader Bhagwant Mann posted on X in Hindi, “We have faith in the court… Kejriwal Ji gets bail… truth wins."