Page 4 - The Indian EYE 051724

BIG STORY MAY 17, 2024 | The Indian Eye 4

BAIL TO AAP LEADER

BOOST TO INDIA BLOC?

The Supreme Court of India gives interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal till June 1.

How will the decision boost the chances of the INDIA bloc in the remaining phases

of General Elections 2024?

OUR BUREAU

New Delhi
n a boost for the INDIA bloc, after spending 50
days in Tihar jail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind
IKejriwal was released on Friday following the
Supreme Court’s order granting him interim bail in
the excise policy case. Kejriwal was arrested by the
ED on March 21, 2024, in connection with the al-
leged liquor policy scam.
A huge crowd of supporters gathered outside
Tihar jail to welcome the Chief Minister on his re-
lease. Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal, Punjab Chief
Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann, party
leaders Atishi, and Saurabh Bhardwaj and AAP
general secretary Sandeep Pathak accompanied
Kejriwal when he was released. The Chief Minis-
ter headed to his official residence after he was re-
leased from Tihar jail.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipan-
kar Dutta granted the Delhi Chief Minister interim
bail in the money laundering case registered against
him by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).
The ED had opposed his bail in the top court,
which was hearing arguments on Kejriwal’s bail Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers after being released from Tihar jail, in New
plea. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, also repre- Delhi on Friday. The Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the Delhi excise policy case till June 1 (ANI)
senting ED, told the bench at an earlier hearing that
there can’t be any deviation only because Kejriwal standing here with you. I just have one request to interim bail will not be treated as an expression of
is Chief Minister and asked if the Supreme Court is make with all of you we should together save the opinion on the merits of the case or the criminal ap-
carving out exceptions for politicians. country from dictatorship. I’m fighting and protest- peal which is pending consideration before it. The
Arvind Kejriwal is now likely to join the AAP ing against dictatorship with everything I have. But AAP supremo is likely to participate in the election
campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Del- the 140-crore people have to fight against dictator- campaigns of the party in the run-up to the general
hi goes to the polls on May 25. ship,” Kejriwal said while addressing the supporters elections in Delhi scheduled to be held on May 25.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Fri- on Friday. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) thanked the Su-
day appealed to the public to unite against “dicta- Earlier in April this year, AAP MP Sanjay preme Court for “upholding democracy” after the
torship” and said that he is fighting “with everything Singh was released on bail from Tihar jail follow- top court on Friday granted interim bail to Delhi
that he has.” ing the top court’s order. Singh was released after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy
“Our country is more than 4,000 years old. But spending over six months in jail in connection with case.
whenever anyone tried to impose dictatorship on the excise policy case. Kejriwal has been granted in- Addressing a joint press conference in Delhi
this country, people never tolerated it. Today the terim bail till June 1 with conditions that he shall along with AAP leaders Saurabh Bhardwaj, Gopal
country is passing through a period of dictatorship. not visit the Office of the Chief Minister or the Del- Rai and Atishi on Friday, party national spokesper-
I am fighting against it,” he said while addressing hi Secretariat. son Priyanka Kakkar said, “We are extremely grate-
his supporters. While granting Kejriwal interim bail, the apex ful to the Supreme Court for upholding the democ-
Kejriwal addressed the supporters enroute to court said he would not interact with any of the wit- racy in the country today. The interim bail has been
his official residence on Friday after he was released nesses or have access to any official files connected granted in very extraordinary circumstances.”
from Tihar Jail. with the case. He will not “make any comment with “This is the last chance to save the democracy
“I want to thank all of you. Crores and crores regard to his role” in the present case, the bench and we call upon the citizens, media and all of you
of people across the country prayed for me. I want ordered. to ensure we also uphold the democracy this time,”
to thank the Supreme Court because of whom I’m The bench also made it clear that the grant of Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com