The Supreme Court has granted bail to Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Sisodia, who has been in jail for the past 17 months, will now be released following this decision.
The court approved regular bail for Sisodia in cases that were being investigated by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). These investigations are tied to the controversial Delhi excise policy, which has since been scrapped.
The allegations against Sisodia were related to his alleged involvement in irregularities and corruption during the formulation and implementation of this policy. His bail is a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the case.
As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Sisodia is set to walk out of jail, bringing an end to his 17-month-long incarceration. This decision marks a critical point in the legal battle, with potential implications for the broader political landscape in Delhi.
Supreme Court Grants Bail to Manish Sisodia
The Supreme Court granted bail on Friday to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia in the ED and CBI cases related to the alleged excise policy scam. Sisodia had been in jail for 17 months.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan highlighted that the prolonged incarceration violated Sisodia’s right to a speedy trial, which both the trial court and High Court failed to address.
The court noted, “Due to an extended 17-month imprisonment and the trial not yet starting, Sisodia was denied his right to a speedy trial.” The Supreme Court stressed the importance of this right, criticizing the trial court and High Court for not giving it proper consideration. Both lower courts had previously denied bail to Sisodia.
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Supreme Court Grants Bail to Sisodia Under Strict Conditions
Sisodia has been granted bail by a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan. To secure his release, he must pay a bail bond of ₹10 lakh and provide two people as sureties to back him. Additionally, he is required to surrender his passport to ensure he doesn’t leave the country and must report to the Investigating Officer twice a week, specifically on Mondays and Thursdays.
The court also made it clear that Sisodia should not try to influence any witnesses or tamper with evidence in the ongoing case. The Supreme Court had reserved its decision on this matter on August 6, which means they took time to consider the case before announcing their verdict.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Sisodia’s bail request, arguing that he should have first approached the trial court before seeking help from the Supreme Court.
This is the third time Sisodia has asked the Supreme Court for bail. In his first attempt, which took place on October 30 of last year, the Supreme Court denied his request but left the door open for him to try again if the trial did not move forward within six to eight months.
When the trial failed to begin within the six-month period, Sisodia requested bail again, this time on the grounds that the delay was unreasonable. However, the Delhi High Court rejected his request on May 21. After this, Sisodia approached the Supreme Court again in June.
During this time, the Enforcement Directorate informed a vacation bench of the Supreme Court that they would file their charge sheet by July 3. Because of this, the Supreme Court decided not to examine the case in detail at that time.
Finally, last month, Sisodia submitted his third bail request, once again challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision from May 21, hoping for a different outcome.
Supreme Court Grants Bail to Manish Sisodia FAQs
Q.1. Why was Manish Sisodia granted bail?
Ans. Manish Sisodia was granted bail by the Supreme Court due to concerns over his prolonged incarceration of 17 months and the delay in starting his trial.
Q.2. What were the charges against Manish Sisodia?
Ans. Sisodia faced charges of irregularities and corruption related to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, which were investigated by the CBI and ED.
Q.3. How long was Manish Sisodia in jail?
Ans. Manish Sisodia was in jail for 17 months before being granted bail by the Supreme Court.
Q.4. What conditions were imposed on Sisodia’s bail?
Ans. Sisodia must provide a ₹10 lakh bail bond, two sureties, surrender his passport, and report to the Investigating Officer twice a week. He is also prohibited from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.
Q.5. What impact could Sisodia’s release have on Delhi’s political landscape?
Ans. Sisodia’s release could significantly affect Delhi’s political scenario, particularly for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as it continues to deal with the fallout from the excise policy case.