The Supreme Court is set to announce its decision on Manish Sisodia’s bail plea on August 9, following a lengthy legal battle. Sisodia, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been contesting the Delhi High Court's earlier decision that denied him bail in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi's excise policy.
The Supreme Court had reserved its judgement on Sisodia's appeal earlier this week after both sides had completed their arguments. The case has attracted significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the allegations and the political implications involved. The court's decision will be delivered by a bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan.
Sisodia's legal team had previously challenged the Delhi High Court's denial of bail, arguing that the decision was unjustified. The case is under scrutiny by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which are investigating allegations of corruption related to the excise policy.
Sisodia's defence, led by Senior Advocate AM Singhvi, has contended that the lengthy detention—now spanning over seventeen months—approaches half of the minimum possible sentence, thus underscoring the need for bail.
On the other hand, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the investigating agencies, has voiced concerns about potential witness tampering and the destruction of evidence.
Raju argued that the delay in proceedings is due to Sisodia’s actions, including filing various applications for unrelated documents, which, according to him, could be seen as attempts to hinder the trial process.
The allegations against Sisodia centre on the excise policy that was implemented and later scrapped. The CBI has accused him of playing a central role in what it describes as a criminal conspiracy involving the policy’s formulation and implementation.
Sisodia's defence has argued that the charges are politically motivated and that the policy in question was enacted after extensive deliberations and in consultation with various officials, including the then Lieutenant Governor.
In a previous order on June 4, the Supreme Court had allowed Sisodia to renew his bail application once the final charge sheet was filed. This decision was part of a broader legal strategy to expedite the investigation and bring the case to a conclusion. The court had instructed that the charge sheet should be filed by July 3, 2024, and that the trial court would then be free to proceed with the trial.
Sisodia’s arrest by the CBI in February 2023 came amid growing controversy and opposition claims of corruption in the excise policy. The policy was withdrawn following these allegations, and Sisodia has been in judicial custody since then. As the case progresses, the legal and political ramifications of the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision are keenly awaited.
The outcome of this case is poised to have significant implications not only for Sisodia but also for the broader political landscape, given the high stakes involved.
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