SC judge Sanjay Kumar recuses from hearing Manish Sisodia’s plea for reviving bail petitions in Delhi excise policy case

New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Supreme Court’s judge, justice Sanjay Kumar on Thursday recused himself from hearing Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia’s petition seeking revival of his plea challenging the Delhi High Court order rejecting his bail plea in an excise policy case.

After Kumar’s recusal, the bench headed by justice Sanjiv Khanna listed the matter next week.

The matter was listed before a three-judge bench justice Sanjiv Khanna, justice Sanjay Karol and justice Sanjay Kumar.

The top court directed to list the matter before an appropriate bench next week in which one of the judges is not a member.

When the hearing began, justice Khanna said that justice Kumar will not like to hear the matter for personal reasons.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, said that the matter is of extreme urgency.

Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia has moved the Supreme Court seeking revival of his bail plea and complained about the delay in commencement of trial in excise policy case.

Earlier Senior Advocate Singhvi apprised the top court about June 4’s order whereby the probe agency has stated that the investigation in the excise policy case would be concluded and the final complaint/charge sheet would be filed expeditiously and at any rate on or before July 3 2024 and immediately thereafter, the trial court will be free to proceed with the trial.

On June 4 the top court also gave the liberty to Sisodia to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final complaint/Charge-sheet.

Sisodia now sought to revive his application challenging the Delhi High Court order which dismissed his bail plea.

CJI on Tuesday assured Sisodia’s counsel to look into it and asked him to rectify the technical defects.

On June 4, the top court disposed of Sisodia’s plea after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta learned and submitted that the investigation would be concluded and the final complaint/charge sheet would be filed expeditiously and at any rate on or before July 3 and immediately thereafter, the trial court will be free to proceed with trial.

Sisodia sought a revival of his plea challenging Delhi High Court on May 21’s order.

In February 2023, Sisodia was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of now-scrapped Delhi’s new excise policy. The policy was withdrawn amid allegations of foul play by the opposition. Sisodia is currently in judicial custody.

According to the CBI, Sisodia had played the most important and vital role in the criminal conspiracy and he had been deeply involved in the formulation as well as the implementation of the said policy to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the said conspiracy.