New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear today pleas by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia seeking bail in the corruption and money laundering cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) respectively in alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy.
ED sought time to file its reply during the last hearing
A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan will hear Sisodia’s pleas seeking bail in both cases.
The top court bench had earlier on July 29 adjourned the hearing on Sisodia’s bail pleas after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju sought time to submit the response of ED to Sisodia’s bail plea in the money laundering case. The bench granted ED time till Thursday (August 1) to file its response and adjourned the matter till August 5.
CBI has filed its response to Sisodia’s bail plea, apex court was informed
The top court bench was also informed by ASG Raju that the CBI has filed its response to Sisodia’s plea seeking bail in the corruption case but it is not on record. The bench had directed to take CBI’s response on record.
ASG Raju, during the last hearing, had also raised preliminary objections on bail pleas filed by Sisodia, saying it was the second special leave petition challenging the same Delhi High Court order and the same order can’t be challenged twice.
The apex court bench had earlier issued notice to CBI and ED on Sisodia’s pleas.
Sisodia moved apex court against Delhi High Court order denying him bail
Sisodia has moved the apex court challenging Delhi High Court’s May 21 orders refusing to grant him bail in both cases.
The apex court had on June 4 disposed of Sisodia’s bail pleas, saying that he could revive his bail pleas after final prosecution complaint and charge sheet is filed by the ED and CBI respectively before the trial court.
“In light of the said submissions made and having regard to the fact that the period of ‘six to eight’ months’ fixed by this court by order dated October 30, 2023, having not come to an end, it would suffice to dispose of these petitions with liberty to the petitioner to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final complaint/charge sheet, as assured by the solicitor general,” the bench had said.
Sisodia later moved the apex court to revive his bail pleas.
Apex Court earlier dismissed Sisodia’s bail pleas in both cases in October last year
The apex court had on October 30 last year dismissed Sisodia’s bail pleas in both cases, however, it granted him liberty to move a fresh bail plea before the trial court after three months if there was a change in the circumstances or trial got protracted.
Sisodia filed bail pleas before the trial court for the second time, however, his pleas were rejected by the trial court in both cases. The Delhi High Court later upheld order of the trial court and Sisodia challenged the High Court order before the Supreme Court, which disposed of his bail plea with liberty to revive his bail pleas after filing of the prosecution complaint and chargesheet in both cases.
The CBI arrested Sisodia in the excise policy-linked corruption case in February last year and later he was also arrested by the ED from Tihar Jail in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.