'What Is AAP Celebrating?': BJP Says Interim Bail To Kejriwal Not Proof Of His Innocence

The SC has granted interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. While the AAP hailed it as proof of Kejriwal's honesty, the BJP stressed that he remains an accused in the case.

A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Dipankar Khanna, on Friday granted some relief to Delhi Arvind Kejriwal interim bail in the liquor policy case. While AAP leaders are happy and are citing the verdict as a reflection of "Arvind Kejriwal's honesty", BJP leaders have pointed out that the verdict did not absolve Kejriwal of his alleged crimes.

The court granted him interim bail against the Enforcement Directorate's complaint in the Delhi liquor policy case, but he is yet to get any relief in the CBI's case. Hence, he will remain in jail for now.

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said that the interim bail was only granted as the matter had been referred to a larger bench. She also claimed that the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet had accused him of being the kingpin in the alleged Delhi liquor policy case. "Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been granted interim bail only because one point of law has been referred to the larger bench... A few days ago, the ED presented a detailed chargesheet in front of the court. As per that chargesheet, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was the kingpin of the excise policy scam... Today, the Supreme Court has indicated that whenever a constitutional functionary is involved in such a crime, he has to resign from his post."

She alleged that Arvind Kejriwal was trying to misguide everyone as he is not ready to resign and this was creating a policy paralysis and Constitutional crisis in Delhi.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that there was nothing for the AAP to celebrate. "Neither Arvind Kejriwal is coming out of jail nor has he been declared innocent. On the contrary, in this order of the SC, he [Arvind Kejriwal] has been advised that when such serious allegations are levelled against a person holding a Constitutional post, he should decide whether he would remain in the post or resign."

Poonawalla said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal should take the observation as an order and resign. "If interim relief becomes proof of acquittal, then Manish Sisodia has not even got bail till now, does it mean he is guilty," he said.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the AAP is looting the public from outside and inside the jail. “Let the [final] orders come... He [Arvind Kejriwal] has not got bail in all the cases," he said. 

He added, "Arvind Kejriwal's new ally Lalu Yadav also got interim bail but later he had to go to jail after being proven guilty. The decision on the scam and the theft committed by Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy is still pending."

"Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj should be ready because Arvind Kejriwal, who is the main accused in the liquor scam, has named them in the scam," he said.

Member of Parliament, West Delhi, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, said that interim bail does not prove Arvind Kejriwal innocent. “Interim bail is not a relief from the crime that one has committed. Interim bail provides for one to stay out of jail as the case proceeds. But it doesn't mean that Arvind Kejriwal has not engaged in a scam, that he was not involved in corruption... Perhaps the Supreme Court has allowed him to be out and work as the people of Delhi are suffering. But the court has not acquitted him," she told news agency ANI.