Arvind Kejriwal Interim Bail: After the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Liquor Policy case to campaign for Lok Sabha elections 2024 till June 2, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday called it a win for democracy and the Constitution. The AAP said that it is the last chance to save the democracy.
Welcoming the Supreme Court decision, AAP National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar expressed gratitude towards the Supreme Court and said that interim bail has been granted in very extraordinary circumstances and this is the last chance to save the democracy.
"We are extremely grateful to the Supreme Court for upholding democracy... The interim bail has been granted in very extraordinary circumstances. This is the last chance to save the Democracy and we call upon the citizens, media & all of you," she said.
While addressing a press conference, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said that the truth has triumphed and the Supreme Court has played a major role in protecting democracy. "It is not just Arvind Kejriwal who has got interim bail but by Supreme Court's this decision truth has triumphed, this is a win of the Democracy & Constitution...The SC has played a major role in protecting Democracy," Atishi said.
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai said that today the top court has given a ray of hope to all those who believe in the Constitution. "Today the Supreme Court has given a ray of hope to all those who believe in the Constitution. Our party, people of Delhi thank the Supreme Court," he said.
"Truth can be troubled but not defeated. The decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is welcome. The dictatorship will end. Satyamev Jayate," AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said in a post in Hindi on X.
AAP MLA Durgesh pathak told PTI, "We welcome the Supreme Court order. Satyamev Jayete! The dictatorship will end."
Interim Bail To Kejriwal
The SC allowed interim release for Kejriwal till June 1 as campaigning ends on that day, but said that he must surrender on June 2. A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta noted said that 21 days here or there should not make a difference and he can surrender on June 2 after finishing election campaign. The court also said that it will try to complete hearing Kejriwal's petition challenging the arrest by ED at the earliest.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Friday again appealed to the apex court that there is no such precendent of allowing interim release for the purpose of election campaign. However, the top court did not budge to any of ED's arguments and said it can present its a case against him when the next hearing comes on petition challenging his arrest by the ED.
ED on Thursday filed a fresh affidavit before the Supreme Court and opposed interim bail for Kejriwal saying that the right to campaign in polls is neither fundamental nor constitutional. The central agency further contended that Kejriwal is not contesting Lok Sabha polls and no political leader has ever been given interim bail for election campaigning. In response to the Kejriwal's legal team filed a complaint against the affidavit calling it a abuse of legal process.