New Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is lodged in Tihar Jail in the money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor policy scam, has got a big relief. Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has granted bail to Kejriwal on a bond of one lakh rupees. A day earlier on Wednesday, the court had ordered to extend the judicial custody of Delhi CM till July 3. ED sought 48 hours to argue against Arvind Kejriwal’s bail, on which Judge Nyay Bindu said that there will be no stay on the order.
Kejriwal had earlier challenged his arrest and knocked the doors of the High Court and the Supreme Court for bail, but his plea was rejected everywhere. In such a situation, the Rouse Avenue Court granting bail to Kejriwal will act as a lifesaver not only for him but also for the Aam Aadmi Party. After getting bail, it is now expected that Kejriwal may come out of jail tomorrow. Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on 21 March. Since then, Kejriwal is lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody. However, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail of 21 days for the Lok Sabha election campaign. After the election, Kejriwal surrendered on 2 June.
Earlier, Kejriwal had pleaded with the Supreme Court to extend the period of interim bail granted to him. The Aam Aadmi Party convenor had cited his poor health in his application and said that the doctors have advised him to undergo a PET-CT scan. Therefore, the interim bail should be extended for 7 days. On this, the Supreme Court bench had advised Kejriwal to go before Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The bench had said that only CJI Justice Chandrachud can extend the interim bail period. However, later the Supreme Court registry did not consider this petition worth pursuing and rejected it.