sisodia-urges-sc-for-bail-plea-hearing-in-excise-scam

Manish Sisodia, senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, currently in custody for nearly 16 months in connection with an alleged liquor policy scam, has approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent listing of his bail pleas.

Represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sisodia's plea was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. Singhvi informed the court that the Supreme Court had earlier granted liberty to revive special leave petitions challenging the denial of bail.

"The Supreme Court had granted liberty to list it after the 3rd of July. It is a revival because the court kept the matter in abeyance," Singhvi explained, noting that July 23 was tentatively set for listing and an urgent email request had been sent to the registry.

Chief Justice Chandrachud assured prompt attention to the email, stating, "I will attend to the email the moment we rise. It will not be deleted."

Previously, the Supreme Court had disposed of Sisodia’s plea for bail in corruption and money laundering cases upon an undertaking by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the final charge sheet or complaint in the liquor policy case would be filed by July 3.

Earlier attempts for bail were denied by the Delhi High Court, citing failure to meet the triple test for bail in the corruption case and conditions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002. Despite this, the High Court allowed Sisodia to continue visiting his ailing wife weekly, under terms set by the trial court.

In a setback earlier this year, the Supreme Court rejected Sisodia’s curative petitions against its 2023 verdict denying bail, suggesting he could reapply if trial proceedings slowed within three months.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court had subsequently denied Sisodia bail in April, attributing delays in proceedings partly to actions attributable to him.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court has extended Sisodia's judicial custody until July 15 in connection with the excise policy case under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).