New Delhi: Supreme Court granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam on Friday. Kejriwal becomes the fourth prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to secure bail in this high-profile case, following the release of Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Vijay Nair.AAP Chief and Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal, was released from jail on Friday after being incarcerated in the Delhi liquor policy scam. The Supreme Court extended relief to the AAP leader, marking his exit from imprisonment. Notably, several other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Vijay Nair, have also secured bail in the same case. Additionally, K. Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, was recently granted bail as well.What is the Delhi Liquor ScamDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delhi government introduced the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. Allegations of corruption soon surfaced regarding the implementation of this policy, prompting the Lieutenant Governor to recommend a CBI investigation. Consequently, the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 became the subject of intense scrutiny, and it was eventually withdrawn amid accusations of irregularities in both its creation and execution.Investigative agencies argued in court that senior AAP officials had deliberately crafted the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 to facilitate illegal money generation. The policy was allegedly designed with flaws to enable corrupt practices, leading to unlawful earnings.Critics claimed the policy fostered internal conflicts and allowed for exorbitant profit margins—12% at the wholesale level and a staggering 185% at the retail level—allowing AAP leaders to amass substantial bribes from business interests.Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) accused Arvind Kejriwal of masterminding the scam, asserting that he demanded ₹100 crore from the South Group. Of this sum, ₹45 crore was purportedly used to fund AAPs campaign in the 2022 Goa Assembly elections. Chargesheets have been filed by both the CBI and ED against several key figures, including Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and K. Kavitha, daughter of K. Chandrashekhar Rao.Key AAP leaders who were granted bailSanjay Singh: The first prominent AAP leader to receive bail was Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. He was arrested by the ED on October 4, 2023, in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam. His name first surfaced in December 2022, when businessman Dinesh Arora mentioned him in a statement to the ED. According to the chargesheet, Sanjay Singh had facilitated a meeting between Arora and Manish Sisodia during a party, which eventually led to the transfer of funds for the AAPs election campaign.After nearly 180 days in Tihar Jail, Sanjay Singh was granted bail by the Supreme Court on March 2, 2024. His lawyer, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that there was no substantial case against him, and the ED did not contest his bail.Manish Sisodia: Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the ED on March 10, 2023, following an earlier arrest by the CBI on February 26, 2023. Both agencies charged him in connection with the liquor scam under the Anti-Corruption and Money Laundering Acts. Accused of manipulating the liquor policy, Sisodia spent approximately 17 months in jail before securing bail on August 9, 2024. The Supreme Court, while hearing his bail plea, questioned why the trial had not commenced despite the completion of the investigation, emphasizing that no punishment could be imposed without a trial.Arvind Kejriwal: AAP suffered a major setback when its chief, Arvind Kejriwal, was arrested by the ED in March 2024, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Charged with money laundering related to the liquor scam, Kejriwals arrest raised questions about the timing. The ED named him the alleged mastermind of the scam, and the CBI followed suit, including his name in the final chargesheet in July.On May 10, 2024, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail until June 1 to participate in the Lok Sabha elections. After surrendering on June 2, the Chief Minister spent nearly 150 days in jail before receiving conditional bail on September 13. The court ruled that Kejriwal met the criteria for bail, though it barred him from making public statements about the case.Status of other AAP leadersVijay Nair: Former AAP communications chief Vijay Nair was granted bail on September 2, after spending 23 months in custody. Nair was accused of conspiring with liquor businessman Sameer Mahendru to orchestrate the scam. The Supreme Court emphasized that bail is the rule and jail is the exception in granting him relief.Satyendra Jain: Delhis former Health Minister Satyendra Jain was arrested on May 31, 2022, on money laundering charges stemming from a CBI case dating back to 2017. He remains in Tihar Jail but has received interim bail on several occasions.Amanatullah Khan: AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested by the ED on September 2, 2024. He is accused of corruption during his tenure as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, including the illegal appointment of 32 individuals and misusing government funds. Khan remains in ED custody.