Supreme Court Refuses Bail to Manish Sisodia in Delhi Excise Policy Case

Supreme Court Refuses Bail to Manish Sisodia in Delhi 

Excise Policy Case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to grant bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The court has permitted Sisodia to revive his bail plea once the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) file their final chargesheets.

Court Proceedings and Statements

A vacation bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta noted the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's submission, representing the ED and CBI, that the final chargesheets will be filed by July 3. The bench stated, "We will not say anything. We will dispose with liberty to revive your prayers. We are not saying anything on merit, and all contentions are left open."

Previous High Court Rulings

Sisodia, represented by Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, sought bail citing the prolonged trial delay despite his 15-month custody. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Sisodia's bail pleas in the cases lodged by the ED and CBI. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court highlighted the grave misuse of power and breach of public trust by Sisodia, who was Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi at the time.

Allegations and Investigation Findings

The allegations against Sisodia include the destruction of crucial evidence and misuse of his influential position within the Delhi government. The High Court noted that as a minister overseeing 18 portfolios, including the Department of Excise, Sisodia subverted the process of framing the excise policy by fabricating public feedback to meet his predetermined goals.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, and subsequently by the ED on March 9, 2023, on charges of money laundering linked to the CBI's FIR. The investigation revealed irregularities in modifying the excise policy and undue favours extended to license holders. The controversial policy, implemented on November 17, 2021, was scrapped in September 2022 amid corruption allegations.

Relevant Laws and Regulations

Several laws are pertinent to the case:

1. Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: Governs corruption cases involving public officials.

2. Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002: Deals with offenses related to money laundering.

3. Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860: Sections relevant to fraud, forgery, and destruction of evidence.

4. Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973: Governs the procedure for arrest and bail.

5. Delhi Excise Act, 2009: Regulates the formulation and implementation of excise policies in Delhi.

Future Legal Path

With the Supreme Court allowing the revival of Sisodia's bail plea post the final chargesheet filing, the legal battle is set to continue. The outcome of the chargesheets by the ED and CBI will play a critical role in determining Sisodia's future legal standing.