New Delhi:

The BJP’s jibes – “‘kattar beimaan‘ and ‘bail wala‘ Chief Minister” – began hours after the Supreme Court granted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal bail in the alleged liquor policy scam, noting the AAP leader’s “prolonged incarceration (in jail since March) amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty”.

BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia lobbied that particular jab at the Chief Minister, declaring at a press conference, “The Supreme Court has shown a mirror to ‘kattar beimaan (‘outright dishonest’)’ Arvind Kejriwal once again. He has got conditional bail… ‘jail wala‘ is now ‘bail wala‘.”

In addition, the BJP – which has previously demanded Mr Kejriwal resign after being accused of corruption and money-laundering by the CBI and ED – repeated those calls Friday afternoon.

“Most important is that Kejriwal should resign… as per the voice of people of Delhi. But he will not do because he does not have a drop of morality (in him),” Mr Bhatia declared. “He used to say a politician should resign even if there is an allegation… but now he is on bail after being in jail for six months.”

The party’s Delhi unit chief, Virendra Sachdeva, echoed the call. He claimed Mr Kejriwal could not discharge his duties given the bail conditions. “He should step down if he cannot work while in the post,” he said, pointing out also that the court had differed on the second of the AAP leader’s pleas.

READ | “Arrest Legal, But…”: What Court Said While Giving Kejriwal Bail

The Supreme Court has released Arvind Kejriwal but said he cannot visit his office or the Delhi Secretariat while on bail. He also cannot sign off on government files unless his consent is cleared by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, who is the centre’s rep in the national capital

Apart from seeking bail Mr Kejriwal had also asked the court to declare the CBI’s arrest illegal.

On this count, though, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan differed. The former said he found no problem with the federal agency’s move, but the latter questioned its late action.

READ | “Only After Trial Court…” Question For CBI As Kejriwal Gets Bail

Mr Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 and granted bail by the top court on July 12. But he could not leave prison as the CBI had arrested him on June 26, while he was still in the ED’s custody.

His lawyers had criticised the CBI’s arrest as an “insurance” move, arguing the agency had ample time to take the AAP leader into custody from April 2023, when he was called for questioning.

AAP Rejoices

Mr Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, who delivered fiery political speeches while her husband was in jail, said the BJP’s “plans” had been defeated. They want to jail opposition leaders and stay in power…”

News of Mr Kejriwal’s release was also greeted with great joy by senior AAP leaders and party workers, with Mr Sisodia leading the train of congratulatory messages

WATCH | How Manish Sisodia Reacted The Moment Kejriwal Got Bail 

“Today, once again, truth has won in the fight against lies and conspiracies,” he said, while his successor as Delhi’s Education Minister, Atishi, said “truth can be troubled, but not defeated”.

READ | “Welcome Back, Kejriwal”: AAP Leaders Celebrate Court’s Bail Order

AAP MP Raghav Chadha welcomed the decision and said the party had missed Mr Kejriwal’s leadership. “Welcome back, Arvind Kejriwal, we missed you!” he said on X.

With input from agencies

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Monday refused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal immediate relief in his battle to overturn the High Court’s interim stay on a bail order issued last week by a lower court.

The court responded to Mr Kejriwal’s arguments – the High Court erred in staying bail without first perusing the order, and rationale, of the lower court – by saying it would wait till the said order came on record, and the High Court had a chance to re-examine the stay – before acting on the matter.

The court has fixed Wednesday as the next hearing date; the High Court is expected to deliver its full verdict on Tuesday. “It is not proper to interfere when the High Court has reserved its judgement,” the Supreme Court said, “We will keep this petition for hearing for day after tomorrow.”

This was after Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate – which arrested Mr Kejriwal in the liquor policy case March and has opposed bail and medical relief claimed by the Chief Minister – said the High Court is likely to render its verdict within 24 hours.

Earlier, as the day’s (brief) hearing began, Mr Kejriwal’s lawyers argued that the “balance of convenience” is in the Chief Minister’s favour, reasoning there is no substantial reason for the AAP leader to stay in jail. “If bail is reversed, he will certainly go back to jail… as he did after the Supreme Court’s interim release (to campaign for the election),” senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi said.

He was referring to Mr Kejriwal’s release last month – allowed by the top court – to campaign for his party and the Congress-led INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP was pegged back and forced to rely on its allies to form the government.

Mr Singhvi also referred to the top court’s order granting Mr Kejriwal that interim bail, in which it acknowledged the Delhi Chief Minister is not a “habitual offender” or a “flight risk”.

“Why can’t I be free in the interim? I have a judgment in my favour…” he continued, responding to the court suggesting the Chief Minister be patient for 24-48 hours till the High Court reads its order.

“If we pass order now, we will prejudge the issue. This is not a subordinate court…” he was told.