New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi liquor scam case. In its verdict, the apex court said that “the conditions will be decided by the trial court”. The verdict was pronounced by a two-judge bench.
Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan raised serious questions on the timing of the arrest by the CBI and termed the “late arrest” by the central agency as unjustified. Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21. After this, he was sent to Tihar after 10 days of interrogation.
In his special leave petition filed in the Supreme Court, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener had challenged his arrest and subsequent remand orders, and also pressed for bail in the corruption case.
On July 12, the Supreme Court had ordered the release of CM Kejriwal on interim bail in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, he has not been able to come out of jail since he was arrested by the CBI.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court had extended the judicial custody of CM Kejriwal till September 25. He was produced before the court via video conferencing from Tihar jail on the expiry of the earlier judicial custody period.
According to the cause list published on the Supreme Court website, a two-judge bench headed by Justice Surya Kant pronounced its verdict at 10.30 am.
Last week, a division bench of Justices Kant and Bhuiyan had reserved its verdict after hearing arguments of senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo, and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the CBI.
–IANS
SHK/KR
