Delhi CM Kejriwal Walks Out Of Tihar Jail On Bail: ‘Will Continue To Fight Against Anti-National Forces’ — WATCH
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was released from Tihar on Friday after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a case related to the alleged excise policy scam.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal walked out of Tihar jail on Friday after he was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court earlier in the day in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam. The verdict was announced by a two-judge bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, who were hearing Kejriwal's plea seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation. He was arrested by the CBI on June 26.
#BREAKING | तिहाड़ जेल से बाहर आकर CM अरविंद केजरीवाल ने कहा - जेल से बाहर आने पर मेरे हौसले 100 गुना बढ़ गए हैं @akhileshanandd | https://t.co/smwhXURgtc #AAP #ArvindKejriwal #Haryana #AssemblyElections #BJP #Bail #TiharJail pic.twitter.com/33qSCvIQTN
— ABP News (@ABPNews) September 13, 2024
After his release, he greeted the workers and supporters gathered outside the jail. "First of all, I thank God with whose blessings I am standing here. I thank lakhs and crores of people and those who came here in this heavy rainfall...Want to thank people who prayed for my release; you have braved rain to come here," he said.
The Delhi CM further said: "My life is dedicated to the country. Every moment of my life, every drop of blood is dedicated to the country. I have seen a lot of struggle in life, faced a lot of hardships, but God has supported me at every step because I was truthful and honest."
"They put me in jail, they thought putting Kejriwal behind the bars will break his morale. Today, I want to tell you that I have come out of jail, my morale has boosted 100 times. My strength has increased 100 times," he remarked.
VIDEO | "They put me in jail, they thought putting Kejriwal behind the bars will break his morale. Today, I want to tell you that I have come out of jail, my morale has boosted 100 times. My strength has increased 100 times..." says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. pic.twitter.com/KWmsbgfVlK
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 13, 2024
Later, he also held a roadshow from Chandgiram Akhara to his residence along with party workers and supporters in large numbers.
VIDEO | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal), who walked out of Tihar Jail on bail earlier today, holds roadshow from Chandgiram Akhara to his residence along with party workers and supporters in large numbers. pic.twitter.com/rUeuvBGNKS
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 13, 2024
"I express my gratitude to the countrymen who prayed for my release. Some people in the country, anti-national forces want to weaken the country, want to divide the country. Today judges are being threatened. Attempts are being made to weaken the Election Commission. We have to fight against this. My fault is not that I have committed corruption, my fault is that I have spoken against such anti-national forces. I will continue to fight against such forces," Kejriwal said during the roadshow.
#WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says, "I express my gratitude to the countrymen who prayed for my release. Some people in the country, anti-national forces want to weaken the country, want to divide the country. Today judges are being threatened. Attempts are being made to… pic.twitter.com/1KLZuFz82x
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2024
Braving the rains in the capital, scores of Aam Aadmi Party workers and supporters gathered outside the Tihar jail, awaiting the party chief's arrival. Several AAP leaders including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Bhagwant Mann were also present.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also arrived in Delhi at Aam Aadmi Party's office ahead of Kejriwal's release. He was seen sharing sweets with AAP leader Manish Sisodia to celebrate the Delhi CM's release from jail.
#WATCH | Delhi: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP leader Manish Sisodia share sweets to celebrate the bail granted to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal by the Supreme Court in a corruption case registered by CBI in the alleged excise policy scam. pic.twitter.com/dGodVolb81
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2024
AAP workers had also gathered in Chandigram Akhara ahead of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's proposed roadshow from the spot.
VIDEO | Visuals from Chandgiram Akhara as AAP workers gather ahead of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's proposed roadshow from the spot.#ArvindKejriwalBailGranted pic.twitter.com/b8Xl762UN5
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 13, 2024
Posters were also put up outside the Tihar jail ahead of Kejriwal's release.
#WATCH | Delhi: Posters of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal put up outside the Tihar jail ahead of his release.
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2024
He has been granted bail by the Supreme Court today in the Delhi excise policy case. pic.twitter.com/H55sgI7cTQ
Although both Justices unanimously granted bail to the AAP supremo, they had differing opinions on the legality of his arrest by the CBI. Justice Surya Kant remarked that prolonged imprisonment "amounts to unjust deorivation of liberty", but maintained that Kejriwal's arrest by the CBI was legal. He noted that with new witnesses and accused being named in the case, it was unlikely for the trial to reach a conclusion on time.
However, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stated that the CBI was unjustified and a measure to make a "meaningless bail" in the ED case. Justice Bhuyan said: "The CBI's timing of arrest raises serious apprehensions. Looks like it was done to frustrate the appellant who has been granted bail."
Justice Bhuyan had also criticised CBI, asking it to not function like a "caged parrot" as he noted that the central probe agency did not arrest the Delhi CM for 22 months and arrested him to "frustarte the bail granted in the ED case".
The bench has imposed a few conditions for Kejriwal's release. The AAP chief will be released on bail subject to furnishing bail bonds of Rs 10 lakhs and has also been prohibited from making any public comments about the case. The apex court has directed him to be present for all the hearings before the court unless he is exempted.
Kejriwal's release comes ahead of the upcomimg Haryana Assembly elections, which the party has declared to contest solo. Also, the Delhi Assembly elections are also scheduled to be held next year.
SC Said What AAP Had Been Saying Till Yesterday: Atishi
Following Supreme Court's verdict, AAP held a press conference in Delhi today.
AAP leader Atishi hit out at the CBI during the press conference and stressed that the top court said what the AAP had been saying about Kejriwal's arrest by the CBI. "Despite all their efforts over the last two years, the ED and CBI could not recover a penny in this alleged scam. Despite no proof, all leaders of the AAP were arrested... What only the AAP was saying till yesterday, has now been said by the SC that CBI arrested Arvind Kejriwal only because it knew he had been granted bail by the ED... The SC asked CBI to be above board, unbiased, and neutral..."
During the press conference, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said: "Getting a bail is a different thing, but with this bail, the Supreme Court has said that CBI questioned Arvind Kejriwal 22 months ago and arrested him almost after two years just because the trial court Judge had already given him bail. The CBI arrested him to keep him in jail… Supreme Court also called the investigating agency a 'caged parrot'."
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