On July 12, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy Case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
However, Kejriwal will not be released from jail as he is currently in custody with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the same Delhi Liquor Policy matter.
The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, referred Kejriwal’s petition to a larger bench to determine if the necessity of arrest should be considered a condition under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The bench granted Kejriwal interim bail, taking into account his time in custody so far. The larger bench retains the authority to modify the interim bail, according to a report by legal news website Live Law.
Despite this, Kejriwal remains in Tihar Jail after being arrested by the CBI on June 25 under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the liquor policy case.
Kejriwal was initially arrested by the ED on March 21 following the Delhi High Court’s refusal to grant interim protection. He remained in custody until the Supreme Court granted him interim release on May 10, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the bail expiring on June 2.
Kejriwal first challenged his arrest by the ED in the Delhi High Court, which dismissed his plea on April 9. He then approached the Supreme Court, which issued a notice on his plea on April 15.
On June 20, a Delhi court granted bail to Kejriwal, who had been arrested by the ED on March 21, ordering his release on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh. However, the Delhi High Court stayed this order on June 25, the same day the CBI arrested him under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the Liquor Policy case.
Kejriwal has also challenged his CBI arrest in the Delhi High Court and filed a bail plea in the CBI case. Both matters are set to be heard on July 17.
