Supreme Court Considers Interim Bail for Kejriwal Amid Election Campaigning Debate

The Supreme Court is set to decide on whether Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should get interim bail to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposes his petition, stating that laws apply equally to everyone and campaigning isn't a fundamental right. The agency, which arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in a liquor policy case, argues that no political leader has been granted bail for campaigning before.

However, during Tuesday's hearing, the Supreme Court acknowledged that Kejriwal isn't a habitual offender and recognized the extraordinary circumstances of the elections. The ED argues that granting bail for campaigning could set a wrong precedent, as many elections happen throughout the year.

They stress that campaigning is part of a politician's job, and granting bail would allow others to seek similar treatment. The Supreme Court considers whether there's an exceptional circumstance justifying interim bail and questions why it took two years for the agency to act against Kejriwal. All seven seats in Delhi will vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 25.