The Supreme Court’s grant of bail to former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia after more than a year in jail will come as a great relief to the Aam Aadmi Party. A look back at the pivotal moments of Sisodia’s 17-month wait for bail.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, arrests then Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia under the Prevention of Corruption Act after an eight-hour questioning session. It was the second time Sisodia was being questioned in connection with the case. He was later sent to Tihar jail.
March 9, 2023: Days later, ED arrests Sisodia
A day before his bail plea in the CBI case is to come up for hearing in court, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrests Manish Sisodia in connection with its money laundering probe into the alleged excise policy scam. The ED arrests Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In April and May, the trial court rejects Sisodia’s appeals for bail, following which he approaches the Delhi High Court.
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May 30, 2023: Delhi HC rejects Sisodia’s bail plea in CBI case
The Delhi High Court rejects Manish Sisodia’s bail plea, saying the probe agency’s “apprehension” that he “might adversely influence witnesses cannot be ignored”. A single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma says the court is “restraining” itself from commenting on the material on record so that “no prejudice is caused to the applicant or the prosecution during the trial”.
July 3, 2023: HC declines bail in money laundering probe
On July 3, the Delhi High Court declines bail to Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the excise policy, holding that the charges against him are “very serious in nature”. Sisodia subsequently moves the Supreme Court for bail.
October 10, 2023: Supreme Court denies bail in CBI, ED cases
On October 10, the apex court dismisses Manish Sisodia’s application even as it raises doubts about some of the charges the ED has levelled against him. “Where is the evidence? Dinesh Arora himself is the recipient… Except for the statement of Dinesh Arora, is there any other evidence?” Justice Sanjiv Khanna, presiding over a bench that also comprised Justice S V Bhatti, asks Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, who appeared for the ED and CBI in the matter. The ED had alleged that Arora was a close associate of Sisodia and was involved at “every stage in the making of the excise policy”.
The court allows Sisodia to file a fresh bail application if the trial is drawn out.
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April 30, 2024: Court refuses to grant bail to Sisodia on grounds of delay
The trial court denies bail to Manish Sisodia, saying the accused are causing a delay in the trial of the excise policy case by filing frivolous applications. While Sisodia’s counsel argues for his bail on the grounds of delay, the ED submits that mere delay could not be grounds for interim bail if the offences are grave in nature. On May 2, Sisodia moves the Delhi High Court.
May 30, 2024: Delhi High Court denies bail to Sisodia in CBI case
While hearing Manish Sisodia’s bail pleas in May this year, the Delhi High Court observes that he is “an influential person within the power corridors of Delhi government” and the “possibility of tampering with evidence” cannot be ruled out if he is released.
The single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma says, “Case at hand involves grave misuse of power and breach of public trust by the applicant (Sisodia) who was serving as Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi at the relevant point of time.”
The high court subsequently rejects his bail.
June 4: SC tell Sisodia to revive bail plea once chargesheet is filed
A vacation bench of the Supreme Court refuses to entertain Manish Sisodia’s bail pleas after the government assures that a chargesheet would be filed within a month. The top court bench disposes of the bail plea and says Sisodia can revive it once the chargesheet is filed.
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July 16: Supreme Court issues notice to CBI, ED
A bench of Justices B R Gavai, Sanjay Karol, and K V Viswanathan seeks a response from the CBI and ED. Appearing for Manish Sisodia, Advocate Vivek Jain informs the bench that he has been in jail for 16 months and that the trial had not progressed beyond the stage at which it was in October 2023.
August 6: SC to ED on Sisodia trial: When do you see the end of the tunnel?
The apex court asks the ED to give a “realistic” answer on when it expects to conclude the Sisodia trial. “Realistically you tell me, when do you see the end of the tunnel, considering that there are 493 witnesses,” Justice K V Viswanathan says.
August 9: SC grants bail to Manish Sisodia
The Supreme Court grants bail to Manish Sisodia. “It is clear that there is not even the remotest possibility of the trial being concluding in the near future,” a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan says, directing that Sisodia be released on a bond of Rs 10 lakh and two sureties of the like amount.
