Excise policy case: ‘Satyamev Jayate,’ AAP after Supreme Court grants interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal | Mint

The AAP praised the Supreme Court on Friday for granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy scam case filed by the ED, asserting that this move has uncovered a BJP “conspiracy” against him.

Despite being granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in the excise policy scam case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the AAP, will remain in jail due to his subsequent arrest by the CBI in connection with a corruption case linked to the alleged scam. This arrest took place while he was under the ED’s custody.

In a joint press conference, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Sandeep Pathak hailed the Supreme Court verdict as a “victory of truth.”

“This is definitely a relief… When they can’t stop this party, they jail all the leaders of the party. So, in such a situation, the Supreme Court order is very soothing. I believe that party is not important, the country is. It is very important in the national interest, that a dictator doesn’t attempt to finish off a party like this. So, such decisions should be written in golden letters in the history of the country,” added Pathak.

AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Sandeep Pathak termed the court order “historic” and alleged that the excise policy case was a “circus” by the BJP.

Earlier, the party in a post in Hindi on X said “Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs)”.

Also Read: Excise policy case: Here’s why Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal stays in jail despite interim bail by Supreme Court

Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “BJP has made a false case of excise policy scam by conspiring against several AAP leaders. They arrested Arvind Kejriwal. Today, the apex court said that this matter be referred to a larger bench so that it can’t be found out if his arrest is right or wrong. I think Supreme Court has given a huge jolt to the BJP. I thank the Court… I think Arvind Kejriwal will get bail in CBI too and he will be out of jail soon.”

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that PMLA is a black law. “The provisions for bail under this are so difficult that it is almost impossible to get bail… First, the lower court granted him bail and observed that ‘ED is acting with bias’.. So, today’s bail by the Supreme Court is a huge thing. Centre had anticipated that the Supreme Court would grant him bail in the ED matter. So, to ensure that he continues to be in jail even after bail, the CBI arrested him… The burden of proof lies on the CBI. So, I don’t think there will be much issue. It’s just a matter of time, Arvind Kejriwal will come out of jail,” he added.

How BJP reacted…

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha welcomed the decision of the court and said, “This is the decision of the court, we welcome the decision of the court… Both bail and punishment are given by the court, the NDA alliance has no role in this but these people play the game of deceiving the public.”

BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said that 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 done a scam, that he was not involved in corruption… Perhaps 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 added.

Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva said that this is a decision between the investigation agency and judiciary. “Interim Bail doesn’t main that you are acquitted. Let the clear decision of Court come. But the people of Delhi know it very well that the manner in Arvind Kejriwal has done corruption in excise policy case, similar is the matter of this electricity scam where attempts are being made to loot the people of Delhi,” added.

Also Read: ‘Kingpin, key conspirator’: Arvind Kejriwal is accused number 37 in ED’s Delhi excise policy case chargesheet

A bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna has referred Arvind Kejriwal’s petition contesting his arrest by the ED to a larger bench.

Also Read: ‘ED arrested Arvind Kejriwal on basis of false statement…’: Delhi CM’s wife Sunita alleges ‘political conspiracy’

Granting interim bail to Kejriwal in the ED case, the Supreme Court noted that the Delhi CM has already spent 90 days in custody and acknowledged his status as an elected leader.

The court had previously reserved its decision on Kejriwal’s plea, with the verdict expected on May 17.