The Supreme Court has intervened in the legal saga surrounding AAP leader Manish Sisodia, seeking responses from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding his bail applications linked to allegations of corruption and money laundering in the Delhi excise policy. Sisodia, formerly the deputy chief minister of Delhi, has been held in custody for 16 months, with the trial progressing at a slow pace, similar to its status in October 2023.
During a hearing led by a bench comprising Justices B R Gavai, Sanjay Karol, and K V Viswanathan, Advocate Vivek Jain, representing Sisodia, highlighted the prolonged detention and requested the court’s consideration. “I have been in custody for 16 months. The trial remains stagnant since October 2023, as noted by this honorable court,” Jain argued, urging for a fresh review of Sisodia’s bail pleas.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the bench set the next hearing for July 29 and instructed both investigative agencies to submit their replies by then. Sisodia’s legal team, led by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, pressed for urgency, citing the pending trial commencement in both corruption and money laundering cases.
The case revolves around alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of Delhi’s excise policy for 2021-22, which has since been discontinued. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, followed by the ED on March 9, 2023, in connection with these charges. He resigned from his post in the Delhi cabinet shortly after his initial arrest.
In earlier proceedings, the Supreme Court had denied Sisodia’s bail plea on October 30, 2023, noting the preliminary evidence suggesting potential “windfall gains” amounting to Rs 338 crore to wholesale liquor dealers. The court, however, granted him the liberty to reapply for bail should circumstances change or if the trial extended beyond reasonable limits.
The legal battle escalated when the Delhi High Court upheld a trial court’s rejection of Sisodia’s bail applications in April and May 2023, respectively. In response, Sisodia moved the apex court, challenging these decisions and emphasizing his prolonged detention without substantial progress in the trial.
The Supreme Court’s recent directive reflects the ongoing judicial scrutiny surrounding high-profile corruption cases and underscores the complexities of legal proceedings involving senior political figures. As the case continues to unfold, all eyes are now on the responses expected from the CBI and ED, which could influence the course of Sisodia’s legal battle in the coming weeks.
