Setback for Manish Sisodia as Supreme Court adjourns bail hearing till August 5

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia’s bail plea hearing in now scrapped Delhi excise policy case till August 5.

Th hearing was adjourned by a bench including Justice BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan after additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju requested more time to submit a response for the Enforcement Directorate.

SV Raju also mentioned that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has already filed its response, but it has not been added to the records so far.

He also argued that the new petitions filed by Sisodia in the Supreme Court should not be allowed, as the court’s June 4 order only permitted the AAP leader to file new bail applications in the trial court, not in the Supreme Court.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi who represented Sisodia disagreed and called SV Raju’s argument very unfortunate. The Supreme Court on June had dismissed Sisodia’s earlier bail plea after receiving an assurance from the Solicitor General of India that the chargesheet and prosecution complaint in the Delhi liquor policy case would be filed by July 3, 2024.

The Court also allowed Sisodia the option to renew his bail request once the final complaint and chargesheet were submitted.

The former Delhi deputy chief minister had moved to the apex court challenging Delhi High Court order that earlier rejected his bail plea in excise policy money laundering case.

Sisodia had moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Delhi High Court’s May 21 order, which had rejected his second bail plea. He is seeking bail in connection with cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act and by the Directorate of Enforcement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, both related to the Delhi excise policy case.

However, Supreme Court has given time to the Enforcement Directorate to file reply till August 1.