The Supreme Court denied bail to former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in a case involving an alleged excise policy scam on Monday. Since his suspected involvement in the “scam,” Sisodia has been detained by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since February 26.
A panel of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti heard the bail pleas and ordered that the case’s trial process be completed within six to eight months. The Supreme Court further stated that if the trial moves more slowly, Sisodia can reapply for bail at a later date.
Previously, the top court informed the Enforcement Directorate that it would be challenging to prove Sisodia’s money-laundering case if a bribe purportedly paid for altering the now-canceled Delhi excise policy was not a part of the predicate offence.
Furthermore, it informed the central agency that the case cannot proceed based on the assumption that a bribe was received, and that whatever legal protection exists must be granted.
After questioning Sisodia in Tihar jail following his arrest by the CBI, the ED brought him into custody in a money-laundering case originating from the CBI’s FIR.
In the money-laundering case involving purported anomalies in the municipal government’s excise policy, the AAP leader was previously denied bail by a high court, which determined that the accusations against him were “very serious in nature.”
His bail request was denied by the Supreme Court on May 30, citing his status as the deputy chief minister and excise minister as “high-profile” individuals who could sway the testimony of witnesses.
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