India’s top court gave temporary bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a graft case yesterday, allowing him to campaign in the ongoing general elections, boosting the opposition alliance of which he is a prominent figure.
The Supreme Court (SC) said Kejriwal – a fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – would be out on bail until June 1, the last day of the nationwide seven-phase vote, and would have to return to pre-trial detention on June 2.
India began voting on April 19 and elections for more than half of the 543 seats in parliament have now been completed following the third phase of the vote on May 7.
The two areas governed by Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – the National Capital Territory that includes New Delhi, and the northern state of Punjab – go to the polls on May 25 and June 1 respectively.
Votes will be counted on June 4 and results are expected to be announced the same day. Kejriwal left from Tihar Jail in his convoy, accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal and his daughter Harshita, reports AFP.
The Enforcement Directorate, India’s financial crime-fighting agency, arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with corruption allegations related to the capital territory’s liquor policy.
Kejriwal’s government and his AAP have denied the allegations. Modi and BJP say the investigating agencies are only doing their job and the government is not influencing them, reports Reuters.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Kejriwal’s lawyer, had argued that Kejriwal was arrested just before the vote to stop him from campaigning against Modi, who opinion polls suggest will win a comfortable majority and secure a rare third straight term.
