The Enforcement Directorate detained Arvind Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with corruption charges related to the now-abandoned Delhi liquor policy.
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New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to return to
Tihar jail today as his interim bail in a corruption case connected to the
Delhi liquor policy expires. The Supreme Court had granted him interim bail to
campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, with instructions to surrender the day after
the final phase of polling.
Kejriwal, who is 55 years old, has also applied for bail at a
Delhi court, with the hearing scheduled for June 5. Until then, he must return
to jail.
The AAP leader declared that he would depart from his
residence at 3 pm to surrender. "In two days, I will leave my home around
3 pm to surrender. We are battling tyranny, and if I must give my life for the
country, do not grieve," Kejriwal said in a public address.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kejriwal on March 21 on
corruption charges related to the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy. The agency
alleges that Kejriwal played a crucial role in creating the policy and
accepting bribes for liquor licenses, claiming that AAP received kickbacks of
₹100 crore, which were used for their election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.
AAP and Kejriwal have denied all allegations, labeling the arrest and case as "political vendetta" timed just weeks before the election.
On May 10, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail to allow him to campaign, leading to a series of rallies nationwide by the AAP chief.
Kejriwal is a significant figure in the opposition INDIA alliance, formed to challenge the ruling BJP in the 2024 elections. Voting took place in seven phases over six weeks, with results to be announced on June 4.
Exit polls forecast a third consecutive victory for Prime
Minister Narendra Modi's NDA, with some polls predicting the NDA could win just
over 400 seats.