In a significant development, the Supreme Court has ruled against granting bail to Manish Sisodia, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi. This decision comes in the wake of separate cases brought against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), relating to their investigation into an alleged scam surrounding the Delhi excise policy.
A bench consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti delivered this decision, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal proceedings. Manish Sisodia was taken into custody by the CBI on February 26, under allegations of his involvement in the aforementioned "scam," and he has remained in detention ever since.
Subsequently, the ED arrested Sisodia on March 9 in connection with a money-laundering case that emanated from the CBI's initial FIR, following an interrogation within the confines of Tihar jail.
Manish Sisodia's resignation from the Delhi cabinet on February 28 further added to the legal complexity of the case.
The High Court had previously rejected Sisodia's plea for bail in the CBI case on May 30, reasoning that given his past roles as the Deputy Chief Minister and excise minister, he held a "high-profile" status and possessed the potential to influence witnesses.
On July 3, the High Court also dismissed his bail application regarding the money-laundering case tied to alleged irregularities in the city government's excise policy. The court held that the charges against him were of a "very serious nature."
The controversy centers around the Delhi government's implementation of the excise policy on November 17, 2021, which was subsequently revoked at the end of September 2022 amidst allegations of corruption. Investigative agencies assert that the new policy led to a significant increase in wholesalers' profit margins, rising from 5% to 12%.
Authorities allege that this new policy facilitated cartelization and favored those ineligible for liquor licenses for monetary gains.
In contrast, both the Delhi government and Manish Sisodia have consistently denied any wrongdoing, contending that the revised policy aimed to boost the state's revenue share.
Manish Sisodia's Judicial Custody Extended in Delhi Excise Policy Case