'Let him campaign, it will remind people of excise scam', says Amit Shah on Kejriwal's bail

NEW DELHI: Downplaying the significance of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's release, Union home minister Amit Shah highlighted the temporary nature of the bail obtained and said that people will only remember the liquor scam even when he campaigns.

"This is not regular bail. It is an interim bail. He can campaign but every time he goes to campaign, people will be reminded of the excise scam," Amit Shah said during his address in West Bengal's Raniganj.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail on Friday evening after the Supreme Court granted interim bail in a money laundering case. The bail allows him to participate in campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, offering a significant reprieve to his party, which has been grappling with the absence of its primary leader.

However, the court imposed restrictions, prohibiting Kejriwal from visiting his office or the Delhi secretariat, and from signing official documents unless necessary for obtaining the lieutenant governor's approval.

Released for a duration of 21 days to engage in electioneering during the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha polls, Kejriwal is required to surrender on June 2, a day after the conclusion of the seven-phase election process. The release follows a period of 50 days in custody due to the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise scam.

(With agency inputs)
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