Court issues release order for AAP leader Manish Sisodia in Delhi excise policy case

In a significant development, the Supreme Court today ordered the release of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia, who was granted bail earlier in the day in connection with the excise policy cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja accepted the bail bonds and surety bonds presented by Sisodia‘s legal representatives.

The former deputy chief minister, who had been incarcerated for the past 17 months, is expected to be released today.

The Supreme Court granted Sisodia bail in the corruption and money laundering cases registered by the CBI and the ED, respectively, on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh with two sureties of the same amount.

The bench noted that Sisodia has been in custody for 17 months, and the trial has not yet begun, thus denying him the right to a speedy trial.

The bench stated that it would be a travesty of justice to send him back to the trial court to seek bail in these cases.

Also Read: SC grants bail to Manish Sisodia in excise policy case

The Supreme Court emphasized that it is high time for trial courts and high courts to recognise that the principle of bail is a rule and jail is an exception.

The former deputy chief minister of Delhi was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, over alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

The ED subsequently arrested him in the money laundering case arising from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023.

He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023. (With inputs from PTI)