SC Eases Bail Condition For Manish Sisodia In Delhi Liquor Policy Case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday relaxed the bail conditions for former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in Delhi Liquor Policy Case, allowing him to be exempt from reporting to the Investigating Officer twice a week.

A bench led by Justice BR Gavai removed the requirement for Sisodia to report every Monday and Thursday between 10 AM. and 11 AM. The court noted that this condition was unnecessary and, therefore, deleted it. However, Sisodia was still directed to attend the trial court regularly.

Sisodia had filed the plea after seeking relief from the bail conditions. The bench, which also included Justice KV Viswanathan, listed the plea for hearing after senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned it earlier this week.

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The Supreme Court had granted Sisodia bail in August, citing the unreasonably long period of his incarceration. The court highlighted that the trial in the excise policy case had not started and could take an extended period due to the large volume of evidence. The bench had said keeping Sisodia in jail for an indefinite period would violate his fundamental right to liberty.

The court also rejected concerns that Sisodia might tamper with evidence, stating that the prosecution’s case primarily relied on documentary evidence, which had already been seized by the CBI and ED.

In a previous ruling, the Supreme Court had declined Sisodia’s bail but allowed him to apply again if the trial proceeded slowly.

Additionally, the Delhi High Court recently issued a notice on Sisodia’s plea challenging the trial court’s decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint in the liquor policy scam case. Sisodia argued that the trial court should have waited for prior sanction from the government, as he held a public office at the time of the alleged offence.

The matter is scheduled for a hearing on December 20, alongside a similar petition from AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who also seeks a stay on the trial proceedings.