Supreme Court notice to CBI, ED on Manish Sisodia's bail pleas in Delhi excise case

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement on separate bail pleas filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged liquor irregularities case. The court agreed to consider an interim prayer for urgent bail on July 28 due to the hospitalization of his wife Seema Sisodia.

The plea was heard by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M Trivedi.

On Monday, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud agreed to list Sisodia's July 14 plea. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, said his wife was unwell and sought an urgent writ.

Sisodia had sought bail from the Supreme Court in the CBI and ED cases related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy case. He challenged the Delhi High Court order rejecting his bail plea.

Recently, the Delhi HC denied him bail in both the cases. In its order passed on 3 July 2023 in the ED case, the Delhi HC said that this court was, inter alia, of the view that in view of the high political functions of the accused and his position in the party in power in Delhi, the possibility of influencing witnesses cannot be ruled out.

During the arguments, the CBI opposed the bail plea filed by Sisodia and said, "The complainant (Sisodia) enjoys close association with the executive, the authorities and the bureaucrats and his influence and influence is evident. His party colleagues holding high positions continue the factually incorrect allegations to influence the investigation and also to claim that the applicant is a victim of political vendetta."

In February 2023, Sisodia was the latest to be arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of Delhi's new excise policy. The policy was withdrawn due to allegations of foul play by the opposition. He is currently in judicial custody.

According to the CBI, Sisodia played the most important and vital role in the criminal conspiracy and was deeply involved in the formulation and execution of the said policy to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the said conspiracy.