New Delhi

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal walked out of Tihar Jail after the Rouse Avenue Court accepted the surety bonds and issued his release warrant. This comes after the Indian Supreme Court (SC) on Friday (Sep 13) granted bail to CM Kejriwal in a corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the excise policy scam. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan delivered the verdict.

The verdict was delivered over the pleas filed by Kejriwal that challenged the Delhi High Court order upholding his arrest by the CBI in the case. "Kejriwal satisfies the triple condition for the grant of bail and we order accordingly," the bench added. 

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Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), can leave jail after nearly six months in prison.

What did the justices say?

Delivering the verdict, Justice Surya Kant said that the CBI's arrest of Kejriwal in the case was legal, adding that the chief minister would be released (from jail) subject to a bail bond of $11,914 (Rs 10 lakh).

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Justice Kant added that Kejriwal cannot make comments about the case in public, and he has to be present for trial unless exempted.

"FIR was on August 2022 and 4 chargesheets have been filed and the trial court has taken cognisance and 17 accused to be examined.. completion of the trial is unlikely in the near future. Kejriwal satisfies the triple condition for the grant of bail and we order accordingly," he added.

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Justice Bhuyan, meanwhile, said that the CBI's arrest was only a measure to make meaningless bail in the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) case.

Bhuyan expressed reservations about restraining Kejriwal from entering the CM's office or signing files, but he eventually agreed to these conditions, as imposed by another bench while granting him bail in the ED case.

"CBI must ensure that the perception of it being a ‘caged parrot’ is discarded. It must be above board," he added.

The arrest

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money-laundering investigation relating to alleged irregularities in the excise policy case.

On May 10, the Delhi chief minister was given bail till June 1 given the Lok Sabha elections in the country. He surrendered in prison on June 2.

On June 26, Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI while he was in custody of the ED.

On July 12, the apex court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering probe by the ED. However, Kejriwal remained incarcerated since he was in custody due to a separate case being investigated by CBI in the excise policy matter.

The reactions to Kejriwal's release from jail

In a post on X, Kejriwal's wife Sunita said, "Congratulations to AAP family! Kudos for staying strong. Wishing also the soonest release of our other leaders."

"It has been proven once again that there is no other politician as true, honest and patriot like Arvind Kejriwal. BJP hatched thousands of conspiracy to arrest him. An honest man who was working to improve the lives of people was jailed, there is no greater sin than this in the history of democracy. Today, we salute and thank the Supreme Court, Constitution and Babasaheb," former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said.

"This is not a victory of truth, lies have also been exposed. Supreme Court observed that arrest by CBI was planned to stop his release in the ED case...People prayed for him and their prayers have been answered today, I thank them and the Almighty..." he added.

Sisodia was given bail in the case on August 9.

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"There is a wave of joy in Delhi and the country... Arvind Kejriwal will lead the campaign for the AAP in the upcoming Haryana elections now...," AAP leader Raghav Chadha said. 

(With inputs from agencies)