New Delhi, October 17 – The Supreme Court has deferred its judgment on the regular bail petitions of former Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia. These petitions pertain to corruption and money laundering cases arising from the Delhi excise policy ‘scam.’
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti reserved its verdict on two separate bail pleas presented by Sisodia, following extensive arguments presented by his counsel, Abhishek Singhvi, and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represented the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Manish Sisodia was apprehended by the CBI on February 26 in connection with his alleged involvement in the ‘scam.’ He has remained in custody since then.
The ED arrested Sisodia on March 9 in a money laundering case linked to the CBI’s First Information Report (FIR) while he was under questioning at Tihar Jail.
On February 28, Sisodia resigned from his position in the Delhi cabinet.
The high court had previously denied bail in the CBI case on May 30, citing Sisodia’s high-profile status as the former Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister, which raised concerns about his potential influence on witnesses.
Subsequently, on July 3, the high court declined his bail in the money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the city government’s excise policy, emphasizing the gravity of the charges against him.
The Delhi government introduced the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but terminated it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.
