India’s top court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, more than a month after he was arrested in a corruption case. The court stated that the bail is applicable until 1 June, after which he must surrender to authorities again.
Arvind Kejriwal, a former anti-corruption crusader, was arrested in connection with a now-scrapped alcohol sales policy in March. He has vehemently denied the charges against him, calling his arrest “illegal.”
After the Delhi High Court refused to grant him bail last month, Kejriwal moved the Supreme Court. The Enforcement Directorate, India’s financial crimes agency, strongly opposed his bail in court.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta, ruled that Kejriwal must surrender on 2 June, just two days before the results of India’s general election are due. Upon his release, he will be allowed to campaign for the election but will not be permitted to perform official duties during that time.
Critics have claimed that the actions against Kejriwal and other opposition parties are politically motivated and have denied them a level playing field in the parliamentary election. The Indian government, however, maintains that the investigative agencies are simply doing their work.
During his time in jail, Kejriwal continued to run the Delhi government, causing concerns about his health among supporters. Last month, he accused prison authorities of denying him proper treatment, leading to a spike in his blood glucose levels. The ED claimed he deliberately consumed too many mangoes and sweets to spike his sugar levels and use it as grounds for bail.