May 3rd 2024.
In New Delhi, the Delhi High Court made an important announcement on Friday. Former Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia had filed petitions seeking bail after being denied regular bail by a trial court in cases related to the excise policy by the CBI and ED. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma requested responses from both agencies - the CBI and ED. While Sisodia remains in custody, the judge allowed him to meet his wife once a week, taking note that the ED had no objections to it. The next hearing for this matter will be held on May 8th.
The Rouse Avenue Court's Special Judge Kaveri Baweja had earlier rejected Sisodia's request for regular bail on April 30th. However, on Thursday, Advocate Rajat Bhardwaj, representing Sisodia, urgently brought the case before a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Arora. The Bench stated that they would hear the matter on Friday, as long as all necessary documents were submitted by 12.30 p.m. on Thursday. During the trial court's decision to deny bail, it was observed that the delays in the case proceedings were primarily due to Sisodia's own actions, dismissing his claims of undue delay.
The CBI's prosecutor Pankaj Gupta had argued before the court last time that Sisodia did not meet the requirements for bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The prosecutor claimed that the AAP leader holds political power and is not eligible for bail. The central probe agency accused Sisodia of being the main accused in the case and expressed concerns that he may tamper with the evidence, which is still in its early stages in certain crucial aspects. Gupta also pointed out that Sisodia had previously been denied bail by the High Court and the Supreme Court and granting bail now, when the investigation is still in its initial stages, would serve his motives.
Sisodia's bail application has been pending since February, and his judicial custody was recently extended in both cases. The ED had also argued that Sisodia and the other accused individuals were causing delays in the trial. Sisodia's lawyer Mohit Mathur had argued for bail, citing the example of another accused individual, Benoy Babu, who had been granted bail. Mathur stated that Sisodia no longer holds a position of influence and fulfils the triple test for bail as established by the Supreme Court. He also stressed on the need for a speedy trial and stated that Sisodia's eligibility for bail is evident, given that all necessary conditions have been fulfilled and there has been no misuse of liberties, as per the Supreme Court's guidelines.
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