The Supreme Court on Friday (August 9, 2024) granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases related to the Delhi Excise Policy alleged scam. A bench of Justices B. R. Gavai and K. V. Vishwanathan pronounced the verdict in the case.
Earlier, the court had reserved its decision on Sisodia’s petitions on August 6. Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023 for his involvement in alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the repealed Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
Investigation agency was blamed for the delay
During the hearing, Manish Sidotiya’s lawyer said that in October we were told that the trial could be completed in 6-8 months. We had said that if this did not happen then the accused could ask for bail again. The accused has been in jail for a long time. In such a situation, a concession was demanded from the strict conditions of bail given in PMLA section 45. At the same time, the investigating agency held the accused responsible for the delay in the trial.
ED said that the accused are asking for unnecessary documents. Hundreds of applications were filed, but no one shows such records. Not many applications were filed in both ED and CBI cases, so we do not agree with the conclusion of the lower court and the High Court that the accused was responsible for the delay in the trial.
‘The accused has a right to see the documents’
Sisodia’s lawyer said, ED’s lawyer had said that the investigation would be completed by July 3. This is beyond the 6-8 month limit told to the Supreme Court in October 2023. Due to this delay, there was no question of starting the trial in the lower court. Personal freedom is a fundamental right. It cannot be violated without a valid reason.
Manish Sisodia has been in jail for one and a half years
The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26, 2023 for his alleged involvement in irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy. The ED arrested him on March 9, 2023 in a money laundering case related to the CBI FIR. Sisodia resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28, 2023.
