Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail Thursday by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court. The Aam Aadmi Party and the liberal lobby began to believe that Arvind Kejriwal would soon be released from jail. He had been awarded a clean bill of health, but the Delhi High Court dealt Kejriwal a major setback at the last minute.
In fact, Aam Aadmi Party workers demanding Arvind Kejriwal’s release had requested that laddus be provided. However, at the last moment, the Delhi High Court halted Arvind Kejriwal’s release. Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party’s delight has been entirely dashed.
The Verdict of Rouse Avenue Court
The Rouse Avenue Court ruled that Arvind Kejriwal must pay One ₹ lakh bond to be allowed bail. As soon as this decision was made, there was a surge of joy among the Aam Aadmi Party, and laddus were ordered in enormous quantities. Arvind Kejriwal’s release from Tihar Jail was widely anticipated.
However, by morning, all of the Aam Aadmi Party’s and Kejriwal’s wishes had been crushed. The ED approached the High Court, and the Delhi High Court directly stayed Arvind Kejriwal’s release till the case was heard in the High Court. This stay is a big setback for the Aam Aadmi Party.
ED’s Claim and the High Court’s Decision
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that Arvind Kejriwal’s bail application was approved during a one-sided hearing. The ED asked the court in Rouse Avenue Court to give them the opportunity to present their case and file a written response, but all of their demands were denied. As a result, the ED filed a plea in the Delhi High Court, claiming that the verdict in Rouse Avenue Court was based on an ex parte hearing.
The Delhi High Court has now imposed a stay on Arvind Kejriwal’s release until the case is heard and decided by the High Court. The Aam Aadmi Party claims that the stay is politically motivated and influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Political Implications
The Aam Aadmi Party leaders are cornering the ED on social media, claiming that because no ruling had been heard from the Rouse Avenue Court, the ED had no reason to move the Delhi High Court for a stay. However, the ED produced screenshots and chats as evidence against Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that the Rouse Avenue Court ignored them.
The ED has been relentlessly interviewing and gathering evidence in the Delhi liquor scam investigation against Kejriwal. Despite this, the Rouse Avenue Court announced its decision to release Arvind Kejriwal on bail, sparking a commotion. The Delhi High Court’s stay on Kejriwal’s release has produced a sense of stillness and worry among the Aam Aadmi Party.
Future Prospects of Kejriwal
The ED has given compelling evidence against Arvind Kejriwal, and the Delhi High Court’s final decision will be key. If the judge considers all of the ED’s claims, Kejriwal may be unable to obtain bail. The ED has provided images and other evidence from the Delhi liquor case, which was allegedly used in the Goa polls.
As more evidence emerges, the Rouse Avenue Court is determined to grant Kejriwal bail. However, the Delhi High Court’s stay has halted the Aam Aadmi Party’s celebrations, causing a disturbance within the party. If the Delhi High Court rules against Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party may argue that it is an attack on democracy and a misuse of the law. They can accuse the ED of being a stooge for the ruling government. The political implications of this case are important, and the eventual ruling will have far-reaching consequences for the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal’s political career.