Arvind Kejriwal Bail Plea and Its Impact on AAP Amid Legal Battles and Political Challenges
Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, is currently at the center of a legal battle as his bail plea in the Delhi Excise Policy case reaches the Supreme Court. The court has reserved its decision on the plea, with the Delhi Chief Minister’s legal team arguing that his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was unwarranted. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, emphasized that the Chief Minister was not named in the original CBI First Information Report (FIR) and posed no flight risk, contrasting his situation with co-accused such as Manish Sisodia and Vijay Nair, who have already secured bail. However, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, arguing for the CBI, raised objections, particularly noting that Kejriwal’s legal team bypassed the sessions court and approached the Supreme Court directly.
Kejriwal’s defense has submitted two distinct petitions to the court. One challenges the denial of bail, while the other contests the legality of his arrest by the CBI. The focus of the plea is the August 5 ruling by the Delhi High Court, which had upheld Kejriwal’s detention. Kejriwal’s legal strategy suggests that his team believes his arrest is politically motivated, especially as his name was not initially included in the CBI’s primary list of suspects.
For the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the outcome of Kejriwal’s bail plea is crucial. The timing could significantly impact the party’s political fortunes. The Supreme Court recently granted bail to Vijay Nair, who served as AAP’s communication in-charge, and Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar, further bolstering the argument for Kejriwal’s release. Additionally, the party’s former deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, was released from jail a month ago. Given the proximity to upcoming assembly elections and key internal polls within the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), a favorable verdict for Kejriwal could provide the party with a much-needed boost. As a senior AAP leader noted, the release of Kejriwal and other high-profile figures from the party would carry significant weight as AAP ramps up its campaign efforts.
Meanwhile, a different but related legal battle is unfolding concerning the 2020 Delhi riots. On Thursday, the prosecution began laying out its arguments in the larger conspiracy case surrounding the riots that took place in northeast Delhi. Activists Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, and former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, along with several others, stand accused of orchestrating the violence. The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad, argues that the protests, which ostensibly emerged in opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), were part of a broader, premeditated conspiracy. This alleged plot, according to the prosecution, was designed to give the appearance of a spontaneous protest when, in fact, it was a calculated effort to foment communal unrest.
As these legal developments play out, the Delhi government has also received positive news on the environmental front. A report from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) highlights that the national capital enjoyed 128 days of clean air during the first half of 2024. The report credits various government initiatives, including the creation of 385 dedicated enforcement teams, for helping to reduce pollution levels. Over 300 older, more polluting vehicles were impounded during this period as part of a larger effort to improve the city’s air quality.
Lastly, former education minister and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia has made headlines with his remarks on the importance of teachers in shaping India’s future. Speaking at a Teachers’ Day event organized by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Sisodia called for educators to receive higher salaries than bureaucrats, suggesting that paying teachers more would be critical in building a stronger India by 2047. Sisodia, who spent several months in jail, used the occasion to reflect on his time behind bars, during which he studied educational systems around the world. His comments resonated strongly, especially as he pointed out that in several developed countries, teachers are paid more than civil servants, a model he believes India should adopt.
These legal, political, and social developments signal a critical period for the AAP and its leaders. As Kejriwal’s fate hangs in the balance, the party is gearing up for intense electoral battles, while simultaneously navigating ongoing legal challenges and broader policy debates.