Arvind Kejriwal Surrenders at Tihar Jail After Bail Ends

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal surrendered at Tihar Jail on Sunday after the 21-day interim bail granted by the Supreme Court for campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections ended. The Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail on May 10 in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam, requiring him to surrender by June 2.

Before surrendering, Kejriwal paid his respects at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Raj Ghat and visited the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place. In a defiant statement, Kejriwal asserted, “I am going back to jail not because I was involved in corruption, but because I raised my voice against dictatorship.”

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari criticized Kejriwal, calling him the "villain of Delhi" and accusing him of neglecting the city's water crisis. Tiwari remarked, “If he had followed Mahatma Gandhi, he wouldn't have to go to jail.”

Delhi Minister Atishi stated that Kejriwal’s surrender respects the court and the Constitution. AAP Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar blamed the BJP for amending laws to imprison leaders without proof, expressing hope for justice from the Supreme Court.

Kejriwal addressed his supporters, expressing uncertainty about his future in jail but remaining resolute, comparing his situation to that of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. He dismissed exit polls as fake, suggesting they were psychological tactics by the BJP.

He highlighted his 21-day campaign, during which he supported multiple parties, not just AAP, emphasizing that his imprisonment was due to his opposition to dictatorship. Kejriwal stated that Prime Minister Modi has admitted to having no evidence against him.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai expressed solidarity with Kejriwal, hoping for his swift release.

Earlier, Kejriwal had sought interim bail for medical tests, but the Enforcement Directorate opposed the plea, accusing him of using medical grounds as a pretext to delay the legal process. The court reserved its order on the interim bail until June 5.