Manish Sisodia Gets Bail From SC In Delhi Excise Policy Cases, To Walk Out of Jail After 17 Months

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, who was in custody for 17 months after being arrested in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The top court said the applicant’s right to have a speedy trial was denied.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, which had reserved its judgment on Sisodia’s pleas on August 6, imposed no conditions while granting the bail.

WHAT COURT SAID

Justice Gavai allowed Sisodia’s appeal and said, “The Delhi High Court order is quashed and set aside. He is granted bail in both Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) cases.”

The Supreme Court bench also highlighted that there was no chance of Sisodia fleeing the country. “It’s high time that trial and high courts realise the principle that bail is the rule and jail is an exception. He has deep roots in society and there is no chance he will flee the country,” the court said.

The court said Sisodia needed to furnish Rs 2 lakh bail bonds, surrender his passport, and report to the police station whenever required.

CASES AGAINST SISODIA

Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, for his alleged involvement in the purported irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him in the money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.

Sisodia, a former deputy chief minister of Delhi, had sought bail contending that he has been in custody for 17 months and the trial against him has not yet started. The ED and the CBI had opposed his bail pleas.

During the arguments in the matter, the apex court had asked the CBI and ED where they see the “end of the tunnel” in these cases. The top court had said that there were total 493 witnesses in both the cases and asked the probe agencies how long it would take it to conclude the trial.

The law officer appearing for the probe agencies had said there were eight important witnesses in each of the case lodged by the CBI and the ED. The law officer had said Sisodia’s claim that delay in these cases was attributable to the probe agencies was not correct.

The apex court had on July 16 agreed to hear Sisodia’s pleas and sought responses from the CBI and the ED. Sisodia had earlier moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court’s May 21 order dismissing his bail pleas.

He had challenged in the high court a trial court’s April 30 order rejecting his bail applications in the two cases.

OPPOSITION LEADERS REJOICE

AAP leaders expressed happiness and welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to release Sisodia on bail. AAP leaders and workers celebrated the development by exchanging sweets at the party office and playing music.

Taking to X, party MP Swati Maliwal wrote, “I am very happy with Manish ji’s release. I hope he will now take the lead and steer the government in the right direction.”

AAP leader Raghav Raghav Chadha also took to social media and posted, “The whole country is happy today after Manish Sisodia ji, the hero of Delhi’s education revolution, got bail. I express my gratitude to the honourable Supreme Court from the bottom of my heart. Manish ji was kept behind the bars of the jail for 530 days. His crime was that he gave a better future to the children of the poor. Dear children, your Manish uncle is coming back.”

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “What a relief.”

Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “We are happy and welcome the order by the Supreme Court. This govt is putting all opposition party leaders in jail using ED and CBI.”