Arvind Kejriwal granted bail in liquor policy case
On Thursday, a Delhi court granted bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to the now-defunct liquor policy. The order was issued by Rouse Avenue Court’s vacation Judge Nyay Bindu after it was reserved earlier today.
After the order was issued, the ED asked the court to give it 48 hours to pursue its legal options. However, the judge declined to halt the order.
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Kejriwal’s release would strengthen democracy: Sanjay Singh
As soon as the order was issued, AAP workers set off firecrackers outside the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence. Sanjay Singh, an AAP Rajya Sabha MP, stated that Kejriwal’s release would “strengthen democracy”.
“ED’s statements till now were based on lies… this is a baseless fake case formed to trap Kejriwal,” Sanjay Singh said.
Kejriwal is the second AAP politician, following Sanjay Singh, to be granted bail in the case. Former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia remains in Tihar Jail.
Kejriwal was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in dramatic events just before the Lok Sabha election. In May, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in preparation for the general elections. He surrendered on June 2.
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What happened during the hearing?
During the hearing, the ED claimed to have proof of Arvind Kejriwal asking Rs 100 crore in kickbacks for the liquor policy issue. The central investigation agency also claimed that payments from liquor vendors were used to fund the AAP’s poll campaign in Goa.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju further stated that the proceeds of crime were transferred directly from the South Group, which included BRS chief K Kavitha, to the AAP.
ASG Raju further stated that Kejriwal refused to provide the password to his phone during the probe.
“Kejriwal says my phone is sacrosanct. Mai password nahi dunga. (I will not give my password). We had to resort to the phone of Vinod Chauhan (accused in the case). He is sitting quiet. An adverse inference has to be drawn from the fact that Kejriwal has refused to give his password. This is a ground for refusing bail under ordinary bail law, forget section 45 PMLA for the time being,” ASG Raju said.
