SC grants bail to Manish Sisodia in Delhi liquor policy corruption case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi liquor policy corruption case. The apex court on Friday granted bail to Sisodia in the cases registered by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED). He was granted bail nearly 18 months after he was arrested. The Supreme Court in its verdict granting bail made it clear that Sisodia cannot be expected to leave the country. The court also rejected ED's claim that Sisodia should not be allowed to interfere in administrative affairs.

The court granted bail to Sisodia on two sureties of Rs 10 lakh. A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan granted him bail. They also said keeping Sisodia in jail for an unlimited time, without a trial, is in violation of his fundamental rights. The court directed Sisodia to surrender his passport and appear before the investigating officer on Monday and Thursday. The court has also given a strong direction that Sisodia should not try to influence witnesses or destroy evidence.

Sisodia was granted bail after approaching the apex court for the third time. Sisodia's bail plea was rejected by the court on October 30 in 2023. However, the court had informed Sisodia that he could approach the court if the trial took up to six or eight months to complete or if the trial was moving slowly.

Sisodia had approached the Delhi High Court on May 21 when the trial in the case had not started even after six months. However, the court did not grant bail. This is the third time he approached the Supreme Court. He was first arrested by the CBI in February 2023. Later, the Enforcement Directorate also arrested him.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were arrested in the case. Sanjay Singh got bail. Kejriwal was released on interim bail but later returned to jail.