Supreme Court reserves order on Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in Delhi excise policy case

New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday on Tuesday reserved its order on AAP leader Manish Sisodia’s petition challenging the Delhi High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the Delhi excise policy cases.

A bench of justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan reserved the order after hearing the argument from both sides.

The top court was hearing Sisodia’s appeal challenging the Delhi High Court order that dismissed his bail plea in the cases being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the probe agencies, raised apprehension that witnesses may be influenced.

Raju said that there are some important witnesses who can be examined. He added that these witnesses could be influenced and that there is evidence that the accused has destroyed phone records.

ASG also pointed to the delay of trial and blamed Sisodia for filing various miscellaneous applications related to supply of “unrelied documents”. He also said that the trial could have proceeded irrespective of further investigation. The delay is attributable to the accused, ASG said.

Senior Advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, said that 17 months are already over which is almost half of the minimum possible sentence in the case.

He also countered probe agencies’ allegations on profit margin and said that it was the cabinet decisions taken after deliberations with many officials including then LG.

ASG Raju had said on Monday that “one cannot arbitrarily increase the profit margins without reason”.

He added that “Sisodia is not an innocent person picked up for political reasons but he is neck-deep in the scam” and “there is evidence pointing to his involvement”. He noted that Sisodia was Deputy Chief Minister with 18 portfolios and was responsible for all cabinet decisions.

Earlier, Senior Advocate Singhvi apprised the top court about the June 4 order, whereby the probe agency has stated that the investigation in the excise policy case would be concluded and the final 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 a trial.

On June 4, the top court also gave Sisodia the liberty to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final charge sheet.

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

On June 4, the top court disposed of Sisodia’s plea after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the investigation would be concluded and the final 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 was arrested in February 2023 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 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 its objectives.