Supreme Court Issues Notice to CBI/ED on Manish Sisodia 's Bail Applications in Liquor Policy Case

Seeking Response from Probe Agencies on Sisodia 's Bail Plea

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on separate petitions filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia seeking bail in the excise policy case.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai sought responses from the two central agencies and listed the case for further hearing on July 29.

Sisodia is facing corruption and money-laundering charges linked to the framing of a liquor policy for the national capital, which allegedly favored certain lobbies in return for kickbacks.

Sisodia 's Long Incarceration and Delayed Trial

Sisodia 's lawyers, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and advocate Vivek Jain , argued that the trial in the case is moving at a snail's pace, and Sisodia has been in custody for 16 months. They urged the court to consider Sisodia 's long incarceration while deciding on his bail plea.

The Supreme Court had earlier, on June 4, refused to entertain Sisodia 's bail pleas but had granted him liberty to "revive" his plea for bail as soon as the final chargesheet/prosecution complaint was filed by the CBI and ED in the case.

Agencies' Assurance and Delay in Trial

In October 2023, the prosecution had given a similar assurance to the Supreme Court that the CBI/ED would take steps to conclude the criminal trial in the next six to eight months. However, the trial continues to lag, and Sisodia 's lawyers argued that he should not bear the brunt of the delay.

The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected Sisodia 's bail application on May 21, noting that his case depicted a "grave misuse of power and breach of trust."

The Supreme Court's decision to issue notice to the CBI and ED on Sisodia 's bail pleas comes as a significant development in the high-profile liquor policy case, which has been a subject of intense political and legal scrutiny.