Arvind Kejriwal Set to Surrender: Emotional Plea as Bail Period Ends
With a day remaining before the end of his interim bail, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal made an emotional appeal on Friday, asking people to care for his “ailing” parents as he prepares to return to Tihar Jail on Sunday.
Kejriwal was released on May 10 after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail until June 1 to campaign for the Lok Sabha election. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy (2021-22) and was transferred to Tihar on April 1. The ED has accused him of being the “kingpin” of the alleged scam under various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
A Delhi court is scheduled to hear Kejriwal’s application for a week-long interim bail on medical grounds on Saturday.
In a virtual press conference, the Delhi CM assured that his government’s welfare schemes, including free electricity, free bus travel for women, and free treatment at Mohalla Clinics, would continue even in his absence. He recounted being “tortured” in jail, denied insulin, and experiencing significant weight loss, suggesting that his health issues could signal a serious illness.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva countered, stating that the only “serious illness” Kejriwal suffers from is “lying.”
“If Arvind Kejriwal was so sick, why did he engage in political tourism and election campaigning?” Sachdeva questioned.
Despite his imminent return to jail, Kejriwal remained resolute, stating, “I don’t know how long they will keep me in jail this time. But my spirits are high. They tried to break me in many ways last time but did not succeed. I will leave my house around 3 p.m. [on Sunday] to surrender. It is possible they will torture me more this time, but I will not bow down.”
Kejriwal described the harsh conditions he faced in jail, including being deprived of insulin injections, which caused his blood sugar levels to soar to dangerous levels. “Before I went to jail, my weight was 70 kg. Today, it is 64 kg,” he added.
He appealed to his supporters to look after his family in his absence. “My parents are very old. My mother is very ill. I worry a lot about her. Take care of my parents after I am gone. Pray for them,” he implored.
In response, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Vijay Goel announced plans to visit CM House on Saturday with an ambulance. “Kejriwal does not have to worry. I have spoken with doctors to facilitate a comprehensive health check-up, which can be completed in a day,” Goel said.
With inputs from agencies.
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