Atishi of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) became emotional as she welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to her senior colleague, Manish Sisodia. Sisodia, who was implicated in the alleged corruption case today related to the Delhi excise policy, has been in custody for 17 months. Atishi, currently the Delhi Education Minister, celebrated the court’s decision as a triumph for the man she believes transformed Delhi’s education system, describing it as a victory for “the man who shaped Delhi education revolution.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday allowed Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, to be released on bail. The court noted that Sisodia had been detained for 17 months without the start of a trial, which infringed upon his right to a speedy trial.
Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan of the bench remarked on the extended period of custody without trial. Atishi expressed her relief and pride, stating, “Today the truth has won, the students of Delhi have won…He was put in jail because he provided good education to poor children.” She also posted “Satyamev Jayate” on X (formerly Twitter) in celebration.
Background on Arrests: Manish Sisodia was initially arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, over alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. Subsequently, on March 9, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him in connection with money laundering related to the same case. He resigned from his position in the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.
Statements from Party Members: Raghav Chadha, an AAP MP, took to X to express his gratitude for the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “The whole country is happy today as Manish Sisodia, the hero of Delhi education revolution, got bail. I express my gratitude to the Honorable Supreme Court from the bottom of my heart.” He also highlighted the hardship Sisodia faced, noting, “Manish ji was kept behind bars for 530 days. His crime was that he gave a better future to the children of the poor. Dear children, your Manish uncle is coming back.”
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh hailed the bail as a “victory of truth,” criticizing the central government’s actions. He remarked, “This verdict is a slap on the Centre’s dictatorship. He was in jail for 17 months. His life was destroyed in those months. He could have worked for the education of children during that time.” Singh expressed hope for bail and justice for other party leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Satyendar Jain, and praised the Supreme Court for its decision, calling it a significant boost for the AAP.