- India politics: Arvind Kejriwal bailed after five months in jail
- Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail after arrest in a high-profile corruption case
- He was jailed following accusations linked to a controversial alcohol sales policy
India politics: Arvind Kejriwal bailed after five months in jail
Delhi Chief Minister and prominent opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Supreme Court, over five months after his arrest in a high-profile corruption case.
Kejriwal, once known for his anti-corruption activism, was jailed following accusations linked to a controversial alcohol sales policy introduced by his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in November 2021. The policy aimed to tackle black market liquor sales, boost government revenue, and streamline liquor licence distribution. However, it was later scrapped when Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena accused AAP of manipulating the rules for the benefit of private liquor businesses—a charge Kejriwal and AAP have consistently denied, calling it politically motivated.
On Friday, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan granted Kejriwal bail, while also instructing him to avoid public statements and official duties, including signing any documents. The court noted that while charges had been filed, the trial was expected to be delayed, justifying the decision to release him, according to legal website Live Law.