Excise policy case: Tihar jail officials receive order, CM Kejriwal to be released soon

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be released on Friday as Tihar Jail authorities have recieved the release order from the Supreme Court.

The Chief Minister will be released after spending almost 50 days in prison.

"Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's release order has been received by Tihar jail authorities. He will be released shortly," the prison officials said.
Security has been stepped up outside Tihar Jail ahead of the chief minister's release.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway outside Kejriwal's residence to accord him a rousing welcome.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail till June 1 in the Delhi excise policy case with conditions that he shall not visit the Office of the Chief Minister or the Delhi Secretariat.

As per the court order, the Delhi CM shall furnish bail bonds in the sum of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the Jail Superintendent. Also, he shall not visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat.

While granting Kejriwal interim bail, the apex court said he would not interact with any of the witnesses or have access to any official files connected with the case. He will not "make any comment with regard to his role" in the present case, the bench ordered.

"He shall be bound by the statement made on his behalf that he shall not sign official files unless it is required and necessary for obtaining clearance/ approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi," the order stated.

As the top court granted interim bail to Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, requested it to grant him interim bail until the declaration of results on June 4, which it declined.

It further noted that the investigation in the present case has remained pending since August 2022 and Kejriwal was arrested March 21, 2024.

The bench also made it clear that the grant of interim bail will not be treated as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case or the criminal appeal which is pending consideration before it.

The bench also said that at this stage, it is not possible for it to either conclude the arguments or finally pronounce the judgment on the plea of Kejriwal against arrest.

Kejriwal, while filing an appeal in the apex court had contended that his arrest after the announcement of the General Elections was "motivated by extraneous considerations".

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

The AAP supremo is likely to participate in the election campaigns of the party in the run-up to the general elections in Delhi scheduled to be held on May 25 till June 1 in the excise policy case.