New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia’s petition seeking relaxation of bail conditions. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking their response. On August 9, the high court had granted bail to Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering case related to excise policy. During this, the court said that Sisodia has been detained for 17 months and the trial has not yet started, thus depriving him of the right to a speedy trial. According to the conditions of the high court, he must appear before the investigator between 10 and 11 in the morning on Monday and Thursday of each week.
During the hearing on Friday, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi appeared before the court on behalf of Manish Sisodia. He said AAP leaders appeared before the investigating officers 60 times. Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, said: I (Sisodia) am a respectable person. He said the high court had imposed similar conditions on other accused in the case. The lawyer further said that ED has not expressed any objection to other accused. The bench said about this, we will clarify it on the next date. Let us tell you that Manish Sisodia was arrested by both CBI and ED in the excise policy case.
Sisodia was arrested for his involvement in the formulation of the repealed Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 and alleged irregularities in its implementation. Earlier arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023. Later, the Enforcement Directorate i.e. ED also cracked down on Sisodia under many different charges. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on 28 February 2023.
