New Delhi [India], July 12 (HBTV): The Supreme Court of India on Friday granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the now scrapped excise policy case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). 

A bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna referred to his petition challenging his arrest by the ED to a larger bench. 

While granting bail to Kejriwal the apex court observed that the Delhi chief minister has suffered incarceration of 90 days and it's ‘conscious that he is an elected leader’, according to an ANI report. 

Kejriwal's lawyer Rishikesh Kumar described the verdict as "a big victory." 

"The Supreme Court has granted him interim bail and the issue of Section 19 and necessity of arrest has been referred to a larger bench. CM Kejriwal will remain in custody as his bail in the CBI case is still pending. This is a big victory," Kumar told ANI.    

Supreme Court lawyer Shadan Farasat representing Kejriwal said, "The court observed that in so far as his arrest is concerned, there are certain aspects on the necessity of arrest. They said Mr Kejriwal has undergone a large period of incarceration already and therefore, directed his release and bail immediately in the ED matter."  

The top court had reserved the verdict on Kejriwal's plea on May 17.  

Kejriwal was arrested by ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22.    

(ANI)  This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.