On Friday, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia’s request to ease the bail conditions in connection with the alleged liquor policy irregularities case.
A bench of justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan directed the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate to respond to Sisodia’s petition.
In his plea, Manish Sisodia requested a relaxation of the bail conditions requiring him to mark his attendance at the police station every Monday and Thursday.
Senior Advocate Abhishek M Singhvi, representing Sisodia, stated that his client is a respectable individual and has already complied with the attendance requirement 60 times.
He further pointed out that the court had not imposed similar conditions on other accused individuals in the case.
Singhvi requested a shorter timeline for the hearing, and the court indicated it would address the plea at the next scheduled hearing.
The Supreme Court granted Sisodia bail earlier, emphasizing his strong community ties and dismissing concerns about him fleeing the country.
The Court also took into account the lengthy trial process, as the case involves 493 witnesses, thousands of documents, and significant amounts of digital evidence.
While granting bail, the Court imposed several conditions, including the surrender of Sisodia’s passport and his requirement to report to the Investigating Officer on Mondays and Thursdays between 10-11 AM.
Additionally, the Court barred Sisodia from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.
Case Background
In February 2023, the CBI arrested Sisodia over alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of Delhi’s now-repealed excise policy.
The policy was withdrawn following opposition allegations of misconduct. Sisodia is presently in judicial custody.
The CBI claims that he was a central figure in the criminal conspiracy, heavily involved in both the development and implementation of the policy to further the objectives of the conspiracy.
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