NEW DELHI: In a huge relief to embattled Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, a court here on Thursday granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. AAP leaders hailed the development as the “victory of truth”.
Kejriwal may walk out of Tihar Jail on Friday if the bail orders reach the authorities there. The development comes ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which is scheduled to begin on June 24, and after the recent denial to extend the interim bail to Kejriwal on health grounds.
Vacation judge Niyay Bindu, who passed the bail orders, also declined the Enforcement Directorate’s prayer to keep in abeyance the bail orders for 48 hours to allow the agency to appeal against it in a superior court.
The judge ordered Kejriwal’s release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, but imposed certain conditions, including that he would not try to hamper the investigation or influence the witnesses. The judge also directed Kejriwal to appear before the court whenever required and to cooperate with the investigation. Kejriwal’s lawyers are likely to submit the bail bond before the court on Friday, after which he would be released from the jail. Though the detailed bail order was awaited, according to Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), bail can be granted only if the judge is prima facie satisfied that the accused has not committed the offence and he is unlikely to commit offence while on bail. Hailing the development, AAP MP Raghav Chadha said, “Truth can be troubled, but not defeated. This is the victory of justice.”