The Supreme Court is set to hear AAP leader Manish Sisodia’s bail pleas on Monday, concerning corruption and money-laundering charges related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan will address both pleas.
On July 29, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the CBI and ED, informed the bench that while the CBI had filed its response to Sisodia’s plea, it had not been recorded. Raju raised preliminary objections, noting that Sisodia’s pleas represented the second special leave petition challenging the same Delhi High Court order. “The same order can’t be challenged twice,” he asserted.
Sisodia had previously challenged the Delhi High Court’s May 21 order, which dismissed his bail pleas. He also contested the trial court’s April 30 order rejecting his bail applications in both cases. The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26, 2023, for his alleged involvement in the liquor policy case, followed by the ED’s arrest on March 9, 2023, in connection with money-laundering stemming from the CBI FIR. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.
During the hearing, Raju referred to the Supreme Court’s June 4 order, which had refused to entertain Sisodia’s bail pleas in both the CBI and ED cases. However, the court had allowed Sisodia to revive his bail petitions after the ED and CBI filed their final prosecution complaint and charge sheet, respectively.
Last week, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Sisodia, described Raju’s arguments as “absolutely shocking,” criticizing the prosecutor’s stance. Raju cited the Supreme Court’s October 30, 2022, order, which had denied Sisodia bail but allowed him to approach the courts for relief if circumstances changed or the trial was delayed.
The Supreme Court, after hearing brief arguments, noted that the period determined in its October 30 order had lapsed and the matter could be heard on merit. “Let it be heard on merit. Why should we have a hearing at two stages, one for interim and one for final?” the bench stated, scheduling the hearing for August 5.
Sisodia, who has been in custody for 16 months, seeks bail on the grounds that his trial has not progressed since October. The Supreme Court on July 16 agreed to hear his pleas and requested responses from the CBI and ED. Sisodia has also filed an application to revive his bail petitions in the excise policy-linked corruption and money-laundering cases.
