Arvind Kejriwal release from jail : After spending 50 days behind bars on corruption charges related to the alleged liquor policy scam, Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Friday evening. His release came shortly after the Supreme Court granted him bail until June 1, allowing him to participate in the ongoing election campaign in Delhi, where seven seats are up for voting on May 25.
Emerging from Tihar Jail’s Gate No 4, Kejriwal was greeted by a throng of AAP supporters, waving flags and chanting slogans. Among those welcoming him were his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, and senior party leaders such as Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj, who have taken on more prominent roles in the party during Kejriwal’s incarceration.
Saurabh Bhardwaj expressed optimism, calling Kejriwal’s release a “gamechanger” in favor of the INDIA bloc, referring to the AAP’s electoral alliance.
Bhagwant Mann, the Chief Minister of Punjab, was also present during Kejriwal’s release.
In his first public statement after leaving jail, Kejriwal expressed gratitude to the judges of the Supreme Court and called on voters to “save the country from dictatorship.” He also attributed his release to Lord Hanuman and announced his intention to visit a Hanuman temple in Delhi’s Connaught Place the following morning.
Although Kejriwal is on bail until June 1, he must surrender by June 2. The court rejected requests to extend his bail but indicated it would consider arguments for extended relief in the coming week.
The court’s decision to grant bail came amid hearings on Kejriwal’s arrest, during which the bench acknowledged his status as an elected Chief Minister and leader of a national party. The court emphasized that Kejriwal, despite facing serious accusations, had not been convicted and did not pose a threat.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) argued against granting bail for Kejriwal to campaign, asserting that no political leader had previously been granted such relief and warning of setting a wrong precedent.
The BJP downplayed the opposition’s celebration of Kejriwal’s release, highlighting that his freedom would be short-lived, as he would have to return to jail. The BJP has accused Kejriwal and the AAP of involvement in the alleged liquor policy scam, which the party vehemently denies, calling it a tactic by the BJP to discredit them before the elections.