New Delhi, May 10, 2024, TRIPURATIMES Desk

New Delhi, May 10: The Aam Aadmi Party Friday got a shot in its arm when the Supreme Court gave interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for 21 days, paving the way for his immediate release from the high-security Tihar Jail in the national capital and campaign for his party in the on-going Lok Sabha polls.

 

The apex Court, at the same time, asked the AAP national convenor to surrender on June 2, a day after the polling for the seven-phased general elections is scheduled to end.

 

It also imposed a slew of restrictions on him as part of the bail conditions. The chief minister cannot visit his office or the Delhi Secretariat during the tenure of his interim bail, the Supreme Court said.

 

After the Supreme Court granted the Delhi CM interim bail in the Delhi excise policy case, the Aam Aadmi Party released a poster of a smiling Kejriwal walking out of jail with the caption: "Tanashahi ka ant karne woh aa raha hai (He is coming to end dictatorship)."

 

Kejriwal can now vote in the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi on May 25 and campaign in Punjab and elsewhere till the last day of electioneering there on May 30, an event that seemed like a distant possibility till the Supreme Court order came.

 

Celebrations erupted at AAP's office in Delhi after the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Chief Minister Kejriwal till June 1. Jubilant workers danced and raised slogans such as "Jail ke taale toot gaye, Kejriwal ji choot gaye".

 

The bail in the contentious Delhi excise policy case comes at the right time for the Delhi Chief Minister, with 13 days left for campaigning in the capital that goes to polls on May 25. All the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi are scheduled to go to polls on May 25.

 

He would get another week to campaign in Punjab where the polls are scheduled for June 1.

 

Not just a star campaigner for his party alone, Kejriwal has got the entire I.N.D.I.A. bloc behind him and soon would be seen canvassing votes, especially in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana where AAP has fielded candidates.

 

However, he will have to navigate a tricky campaign in these three states as the party is facing the Congress in Punjab while being in an alliance in Delhi and Haryana. How he designs his campaigns in these states without upsetting the political equation or compromising his party’s chances in Punjab will be keenly watched.

 

While granting interim bail to Kejriwal, the top court also pointed out the Enforcement Directorate's delay in arresting the AAP chief.

 

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said that the central probe agency had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in August 2022, but Kejriwal was arrested in March.

 

"For about one and half years he was there ... The arrest could have been made afterward or before. 21 days here or there should not make any difference," Justice Khanna said.

 

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam.

 

He was lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody and had sought release from jail to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

 

As Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, top leaders of the party held a press conference in the national capital and said the verdict is a ‘victory for democracy’.

 

Delhi Minister Atishi said, “We have started a movement to end dictatorship, and this movement will be strengthened with Kejriwal walking out of jail.” She added that it is up to the citizens now to defeat “dictatorship by the power of vote”.

 

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "Satya pareshan ho sakta hai, parajit nahi (Truth can be disturbed, but not defeated)."

 

"A positive atmosphere will be seen across the country now. We welcome interim bail to Kejriwal ... Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP's dictatorship will end now," he added even before the Delhi CM walked out of the prison gates to a rousing welcome by party leaders and workers.