Manish Sisodia Granted Bail by Supreme Court After 16 Months in Jail
On August 9, 2024, the Supreme Court granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in connection with corruption and money laundering cases related to the Delhi Excise Policy scam. The court’s bench, comprising Justices B. R. Gavai and K. V. Vishwanathan, announced the decision after reserving the verdict on August 6.Sisodia had been arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, for alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. He was subsequently arrested by the ED on March 9, 2023, for money laundering linked to the CBI case. Sisodia resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28, 2023.During the hearing, Sisodia’s lawyer argued that the trial’s delay beyond the initially indicated 6-8 months timeframe justified a reconsideration of bail conditions. The lawyer emphasized that personal freedom is a fundamental right and should not be compromised without valid reason.The ED, on the other hand, contested claims of trial delays attributed to the accused, citing numerous applications for documents and asserting that the delay was not caused by Sisodia.Sisodia has now been granted bail after spending over a year and a half in jail.
