The Supreme Court of India has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise corruption case, allowing him temporary release from Tihar Jail until June 1.

According to a report in the Indian Express, the court issued this order following a petition filed on behalf of Kejriwal on Friday.

Under the terms of the bail, Kejriwal is required to surrender once again on June 2, although specific details of the bail order are yet to be disclosed.

Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 on charges related to corruption in excise policy has sparked controversy, with the Delhi Chief Minister denouncing it as a political conspiracy, particularly given its timing just before the Lok Sabha elections.

While the ruling BJP has refuted allegations of political motives behind the arrest, Kejriwal's bail has reignited political discourse in Delhi, especially as the Lok Sabha elections progress.

A petition was filed urging the Supreme Court to grant bail to Kejriwal to enable him to campaign during the ongoing polls. However, the court deferred the urgent hearing of the petition by two weeks.

The ED has opposed Kejriwal's bail plea, arguing that campaigning in elections is neither a fundamental nor a constitutional right.

In response, the ED emphasized in court that granting any 'special concession' to Kejriwal would undermine the principles of rule of law and equity.

Kejriwal was initially remanded to ED custody until March 28 by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court following his arrest. He subsequently challenged the ED's order in the High Court, but was ultimately sent to Tihar Jail on the court's directive.