Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to return to Tihar jail today after his interim bail in a corruption case related to the Delhi liquor policy expires. Kejriwal, who was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, has been ordered to surrender a day after the final round of polling.
Interim Bail and Bail Petition
The 55-year-old Chief Minister had applied for bail at a Delhi court. However, the petition will not be heard until June 5, necessitating his return to jail in the interim. In a public statement, Kejriwal announced he will leave his house at 3 pm today to surrender.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 over allegations of corruption tied to the Delhi liquor policy, which has since been scrapped. The agency accuses him of playing a key role in drafting the policy and accepting bribes in exchange for liquor licenses.
It is alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received ₹100 crore in kickbacks, which were purportedly used to fund election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.
Both Kejriwal and the AAP have strongly denied all charges, labeling the arrest and subsequent case as “political vendetta.”
Following the Supreme Court’s grant of interim bail on May 10, Kejriwal actively participated in election rallies across the nation.
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The Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases over six weeks, with results set to be announced on June 4. Exit polls suggest a strong performance for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s NDA, predicting a third consecutive victory with some polls indicating the NDA could win just over 400 seats.
As Kejriwal returns to jail, the political climate remains tense with ongoing debates about the legitimacy of the charges against him and the impact of his incarceration on the broader electoral landscape. The coming days will be determining the future trajectory of both the AAP and its leader.
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