What 4 conditions SC set before granting Manish Sisodia bail
What's the story
The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
The apex court's decision comes after Sisodia had spent 17 months in custody without a trial.
Pronouncing the order, the bench observed that this delay had deprived him of his right to a speedy trial.
At the same time, the bench laid down four conditions for his bail.
Bail conditions
SC sets four conditions for Sisodia's bail
The conditions include furnishing a bail bond of ₹10 lakh with two sureties, surrendering his passport to the police station, reporting to the investigating officer twice a week (on Mondays and Thursdays), and abstaining from attempting to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence.
The SC also rejected the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s request to impose restrictions on Sisodia's access to the secretariat or Chief Minister's office.
Court ruling
SC rejects ED's request to restrict Sisodia's access
The court ruled that it would be unreasonable to force Sisodia to seek bail from lower courts, emphasizing that "bail not jail" is the rule.
Sisodia was also allowed to inspect lengthy documents.
The court stated that there is "not even the remotest possibility of trial being completed" in the foreseeable future, citing 495 witnesses and thousands of documents.
It said that detaining Sisodia indefinitely in the hopes of a speedy trial would violate Article 21's right to personal liberty.
Arrest details
Sisodia's arrest and subsequent resignation
Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, for alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
He was later arrested by the ED on March 9, 2023, in connection with a money laundering case.
Following his arrest, he resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28 last year.
This was Sisodia's third attempt at securing bail from the top court. His previous pleas were rejected last year and earlier this year.
Case background
Case against Sisodia based on Delhi L-G's complaint
The case against Sisodia was registered based on a complaint by Delhi L-G VK Saxena in July 2022 alleging irregularities in the excise policy.
Besides Sisodia, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and AAP MP Sanjay Singh have also been arrested in connection with the ED probe.
Notably, while Singh is out on bail, Kejriwal remains in judicial custody and is lodged in Tihar Jail.