Delhi Excise case: SC grants bail to AAP's Manish Sisodia after 17 months in jail

The Supreme Court on Aug 9 granted bail to former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia in both the CBI and ED cases related to the Delhi Excise scam citing the delay in commencing the trial in the liquor policy case.

A Bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan granted bail to Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering cases noting that the possibility of trial being completed soon is improbable as there are over 400 witnesses and thousands of documents.

Keeping Sisodia under custody in such a scenario would result in a grave violation of the fundamental right to personal liberty, the court said.

The court said it did not see any error in the case's merits, but the bail should be given as there was little possibility of the trial concluding soon.

It is a high time trial courts, High Courts recognize the principle of bail is the rule and jail is an exception, the court said while hearing Sisodia's plea.

Sisodia had approached the apex court, arguing that the trial had not begun despite assurances from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in October 2023 that it would be concluded within six to eight months.

The apex court directed that Manish Sisodia be released on bail on a personal bond of ₹10 lakh with two sureties of like amount.

The former deputy chief minister of Delhi was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, while the ED arrested him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on March 9 last year.

He was arrested for the supposed irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023. The ED and the CBI had opposed his bail pleas.

Meanwhile, the Aam AAdmi Party leaders have welcomed the SC's decision. "Sisodia's life was destroyed in jail for 17 months. He was kept in jail as part of a political grudge. He could have utilized it in doing so much," Sanjay Singh said, adding that the decision is a big boost to his party.

"The whole country happy today", said AAP leader Raghav Chadha.