Fri Sep 13 09:47:03 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Grants Bail to Arvind Kejriwal in Excise Policy Case, But Imposes Strict Conditions

**New Delhi, September 13, 2024:** In a highly anticipated decision, the Supreme Court of India granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, ending his six-month imprisonment in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. However, the court imposed strict conditions, barring him from visiting his office or the Delhi Secretariat, and prohibiting him from making any public comments on the case.

The court’s ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, with Justice Bhuyan expressing concerns about the CBI’s actions, stating that the agency “must be seen to act above board” and dispel the perception of being a “caged parrot.”

While granting bail, Justice Kant deemed Kejriwal’s prolonged incarceration as an “unjust deprivation of liberty,” but upheld the legality of his arrest. Justice Bhuyan, however, considered the arrest “unjustified.”

Kejriwal was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 for money laundering related to the scrapped excise policy. Subsequently, on June 26, the CBI arrested him in a corruption case related to the alleged scam. The Supreme Court had previously granted him interim bail in the ED case, but his release was prevented due to the CBI case.

The AAP leader’s release is expected to boost morale within his party, which is contesting upcoming elections in Haryana and Delhi. His release also comes amid heightened political tensions, with the BJP strongly criticizing the Supreme Court’s decision and demanding his resignation.

While the Supreme Court granted bail, it also made it clear that Kejriwal remains an accused in the case and the investigation is ongoing. The court’s decision has sparked debate about the role of central agencies in political investigations and the balance between due process and political expediency.

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