BREAKING NOW – Kejriwal Bail News: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court today granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the CBI case related to the alleged liquor policy scam. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, in a separate concurring opinion, sharply criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its conduct, emphasizing that the premier investigating agency must avoid any perception of bias or high-handedness in its operations.

Justice Bhuyan noted, “The CBI, as a premier investigating agency, must not only act impartially but also be perceived as doing so. It should not be seen as a ‘caged parrot’ but rather as an ‘uncaged parrot,’ capable of conducting fair investigations without external influence.” He further stressed that in a democratic system governed by the rule of law, perception plays a crucial role.

The Supreme Court’s ruling came after Kejriwal challenged the August 5 Delhi High Court decision, which dismissed his plea against the CBI arrest and referred him to the trial court for bail. Kejriwal had been arrested by the CBI on June 26, 2024, while already in custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case related to the same liquor policy scandal.

Although the Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail in the ED case on July 12, 2024, he remained in custody due to the CBI arrest. Today’s judgment marks a crucial development in the ongoing investigations into the alleged scam.

Background of the Liquor Policy Scam Case

The liquor policy scam case revolves around allegations of corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi government’s 2021-2022 excise policy. The policy was aimed at privatizing liquor sales in the capital to increase revenue, but it quickly came under scrutiny. It was alleged that irregularities in the policy’s execution benefited private liquor vendors and caused significant losses to the state exchequer.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) both began investigations into the case, which eventually led to the arrest of several officials and businesspersons. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s involvement became a focal point of the investigation when the CBI formally arrested him in June 2024, accusing him of facilitating a liquor policy that favored certain vendors in exchange for kickbacks. The ED also charged him with money laundering linked to the policy.

Kejriwal has consistently denied the charges, calling the investigations politically motivated. In July 2024, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the ED case, but he remained in custody due to the CBI arrest until his recent bail ruling by the Supreme Court​

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