New Delhi
The Supreme Court of India has reserved its judgment on the regular bail petitions filed by former deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia. These petitions are related to corruption and money laundering cases stemming from the alleged scam in Delhi’s excise policy. During the proceedings, Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Sisodia, and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), presented their arguments before a bench consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S.V.N. Bhatti. On the previous day, the Supreme Court had emphasized that Sisodia cannot be held in jail for an indefinite period in the Delhi excise policy cases. The court sought information from the ASG regarding when the trial court would begin arguments on charges against Sisodia. The ASG clarified that the cases against Sisodia were at the stage of section 207 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which involves the supply of documents to the accused. He also contended that there was enough evidence to establish money laundering and tampering with evidence, such as the destruction of mobile phones, as grounds to deny bail. In March, Sisodia was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case based on a CBI FIR. He has been in custody since February when he was initially arrested by the CBI. Sisodia’s bail petitions had been denied by the Delhi High Court in May and July, leading him to approach the Supreme Court.
