New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia’s plea seeking relaxation in bail conditions. As per the bail conditions, he will have to appear before the investigating officer every Monday and Thursday in corruption and money laundering cases related to Delhi Excise Policy.
Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice K. V Vishwanathan’s bench issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sisodia’s applications and sought their response. The Supreme Court had on August 9 granted bail to Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam, saying that being in jail for 17 months without trial deprived him of his right to a speedy trial. Were.
The top court had imposed conditions, including that he would report to the investigating officer every Monday and Thursday between 10 am and 11 am. During the hearing on Friday, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has appeared before the investigating officers 60 times.
The senior advocate said, “He (Sisodia) is a respectable person.” Sighvi said the Supreme Court had imposed similar conditions on other accused in the case. He said, “ED had given no objection certificate to all the other accused.” The bench said, “We will clarify in the next hearing.” The apex court said, “Issue notice, which will be issued within two weeks.” The former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi was arrested by both the CBI and ED in corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam.
He was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, for alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-canceled Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The next month, the ED arrested him in a money laundering case registered on the basis of a CBI FIR on March 9, 2023. He resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28, 2023.
In its August 9 decision granting bail to Sisodia in both the cases, the top court had said that the time has come for lower courts and high courts to accept the principle that “bail is the rule and jail the exception.”
The court said, “We are of the view that due to being in jail for almost 17 months and the trial not having started, the appellant (Sisodia) was deprived of his right to a speedy trial.” The apex court awarded him a fine of Rs 10 lakh. Instructions were given to deposit the bail bond and two sureties of the same amount.