In a significant legal development, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia has been granted bail by the Supreme Court after spending 17 months in jail. This decision pertains to cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to the controversial Delhi excise policy scam.
The Supreme Court’s ruling came with specific conditions for Sisodia’s release. He is required to post a bail bond of ₹10 lakh and provide two sureties. Additionally, Sisodia must surrender his passport and report to the Investigating Officer (IO) twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. The court has also cautioned him against influencing or tampering with evidence, which could lead to further legal complications.
Notably, the apex court rejected the ED’s request to impose restrictions on Sisodia’s movements, such as barring him from visiting the Delhi Secretariat or Chief Minister’s office, which had previously been enforced on Arvind Kejriwal during his bail proceedings.
The court’s decision was made during an appeal against a Delhi High Court order that had previously denied Sisodia bail. The Delhi High Court had dismissed Sisodia’s plea concerning the ongoing investigations by the CBI and the ED.
The bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, noted that Sisodia had been deprived of his right to a speedy trial, having been held in custody for an extended period without a trial. The justices emphasised that it would be a “travesty of justice” to force Sisodia to remain in custody while awaiting trial.
The Supreme Court underscored that the principle of bail should be viewed as the norm, while incarceration should be the exception. This ruling highlights the court’s stance on the necessity of timely trials for individuals held in custody for prolonged periods.
Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, was initially arrested by the CBI in 2023 over alleged irregularities in the now-revoked Delhi Excise Policy. The ED subsequently detained him on March 9, 2023, in connection with a money laundering case linked to the CBI FIR. Following his arrest, Sisodia resigned from his position in the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also implicated in the same case, though Sisodia’s request for bail was centred on the length of his detention.
Manish Sisodia’s release on bail marks a significant turning point in the Delhi excise policy case. With the Supreme Court’s decision, Sisodia now faces the prospect of trial while complying with strict conditions. This case underscores the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring timely justice and the fundamental principle that bail is the norm, not imprisonment.
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