The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who will be released after spending 17 months in jail. Sisodia was arrested in February 2023 in connection with the now-scrapped excise policy, facing investigations from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan stated that it would be a “travesty of justice” to require Sisodia to seek bail from the trial court again. The court ordered him to submit a bail bond of ₹10 lakh with two sureties, surrender his passport, and report to the Investigating Officer twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. The court emphasized that he should not attempt to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence.
This decision comes after Sisodia’s third plea for bail, following a rejection from the Delhi High Court on May 21. The Supreme Court had previously kept the option open for Sisodia to revive his bail application if the trial did not progress within a reasonable timeframe. The CBI and ED had argued against the maintainability of Sisodia’s petition, suggesting he should first seek bail from the trial court.
Sisodia was accused of being pivotal in implementing the excise policy for 2021-22 without proper approvals, allegedly favouring licensees post-tender. The ED’s charges include claims that Sisodia used kickbacks from the policy to finance the Aam Aadmi Party’s 2022 Punjab election campaign. The case has seen significant political implications, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP MP Sanjay Singh also facing legal troubles.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, Sisodia’s release marks a significant development in a high-profile case that has captured public attention and raised questions about governance and accountability in Delhi.
