The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case that was filed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the excise policy case, Bar and Bench reported. 

Kejriwal, however, will remain in Tihar jail as he was also arrested by the CBI over corruption charges linked to alleged excise policy scam on June 25.

The court referred his petition challenging the ED’s arrest to a larger bench to look into larger questions. It also clarified that the question of interim bail can be modified by the larger bench.

The bench had earlier granted interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 to enable him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. The Delhi CM had returned to jail after his bail period got over.

Kejriwal was first arrested by the ED in the liquor policy case on March 21. The arrest had come weeks before the general elections, and after at least nine ED summons. The central agency had reached the Delhi CM’s residence hours after the Delhi High Court had denied any interim protection to Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. In the run up to the arrest, several AAP leaders had alleged a “big conspiracy” against the Delhi CM.  

In the subsequent court proceedings, the ED had termed Kejriwal the “kingpin” of the alleged liquor scam.

Newslaundry has extensively reported on Kejriwal's arrest and the alleged liquor scam. Read here.

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