The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail petition of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate for his alleged involvement in the Delhi excise policy scam case.
The Vacation Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Sandeep Mehta recorded the submission of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that a charge sheet will be filed in the matter by July 3.
The Apex Court clarified that it was not saying anything on the merits of the matter and also granted liberty to Sisodia to file for bail afresh.
However, the Vacation bench did not clarify whether the liberty to file for bail afresh would be before the trial court or the Supreme Court.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, asked for liberty to move the Apex Court, stating that Sisodia has remained behind the bars for the past 15 months, adding that the trial courts did not deal with politically sensitive matters (on time).
However, the Vacation Bench did not issue any clarification in that respect.
Earlier on May 21, the Delhi High Court denied bail to the former Deputy Chief Minister in cases registered against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the Delhi Excise Policy scam case.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma noted that the prosecution had made prima facie a case of money laundering under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Manish Sisodia’s conduct amounted to a great betrayal of democratic principles, it said, adding that the AAP leader indulged in acts of destruction of crucial evidence, including electronic evidence.
The High Court said this in reference to the two mobile phones, which were claimed to have been damaged.
The single-judge Bench further took into account the fact that Sisodia was holding an important position in the Delhi government and heading multiple portfolios and that being a senior leader of AAP, he was an influential person.
Earlier, the trial court had rejected Sisodia’s bail plea in both the CBI and ED cases against him.
Sisodia has remained in custody since February 26, 2023. He is being investigated by both the CBI and the ED in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.
The matter involved allegations that the AAP-led Delhi government officials had conspired to grant liquor licenses to certain traders in exchange for bribes. The accused officials allegedly tweaked the excise policy to benefit certain liquor sellers.