The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until June 1 in the Delhi excise policy case and stated that a detailed order would follow soon.
Justices Khanna and Dipankar Datta acknowledged the “extraordinary” situation due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections but expressed concerns about the Chief Minister’s official duties if granted bail.
They noted the potential cascading effects and suggested that Mr. Kejriwal refrain from official duties if granted bail.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) cautioned against granting interim relief, arguing it could incentivize criminal behavior among politicians.
AAP objected strongly to the ED’s affidavit, citing disregard for legal procedures.
The Delhi High Court previously upheld Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest in the case, finding no illegality and citing evidence linking him to cash transactions during the 2022 Goa elections.