New Delhi: In a huge relief, the Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) case in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case till the matter is referred to a larger bench. While granting interim bail, the SC said, "Delhi CM has suffered incarceration for more than 90 days. He is an elected leader and it is up to him whether he will continue or not".  Kejriwal, however, will remain in jail as he is currently in custody in the CBI case in connection with the excise policy case.

A bench of Justices Sanjv Khanna and Dipankar Datta referred the questions pertaining to legality of his arrest in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case to a larger bench. The top court framed three questions related to power and policy of arrest by the ED, and said Kejriwal will be released on interim bail in terms of the conditions in the order of May 10.

Upbeat over SC granting interim bail to Kejriwal, Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, in a press conference, said that he is “hopeful” that Delhi CM will get bail in the CBI case soon. In the same presser, which was held shortly after SC's decision, Delhi Education Minister Atishi said, “It proves excise policy case is conspiracy by BJP against him.”

The chief minister was arrested on March 21 by the ED in the money laundering case. Kejriwal was also arrested by the CBI on June 26 in connection with the corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam. The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which has now been scrapped.

(With inputs from PTI)