Apex Court Denies Bail to Manish Sisodia In Delhi Excise Policy Scam Case, Says Transfer Of Money Is Tentatively Established

The Supreme Court today refused to grant bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Leader, Manish Sisodia, in cases related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, which were being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. Sisodia is in custody since February 26, 2023.

The Bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti while pronouncing the operative part of the judgment stated, "One aspect with regard to the transfer of money, Rs. 338 Crores, is tentatively established. We therefore dismiss the application for bail but we have made one observation that they have said that the trial will be concluded within 6 to 8 months, so if within 3 months the trial proceeds sloppily or slowly he will be entitled to file an application for bail."

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Sisodia while Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju appeared for the respondent. 

Manish Sisodia had moved the Supreme Court in a Special Leave Petition challenging the dismissal of bail application by the Delhi High Court. The Apex Court had issued notice in the matters on July 14, 2023. During the hearing, asking the agencies when the charges would be framed, the Bench had remarked that a person could not be held in custody indefinitely. 

In the Affidavit filed by the CBI, it was submitted to the Apex Court that Manish Sisodia's wife's ailments were not new. Opposing the bail application, CBI called Sisodia the 'kingpin' of the Delhi excise policy scam. The High Court had on May 30 denied bail to him in the excise policy scam case being probed by the CBI, saying having been the deputy chief minister and excise minister, he is a "high-profile" person who has the potential to influence the witnesses.

On July 3, the High Court declined him bail in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the city government's excise policy, holding the charges against him were "very serious in nature". The ED arrested Sisodia in connection with the money laundering case on March 9. On June 5, the High Court allowed Sisodia to meet his ailing wife for one day. 

Sisodia, who held the excise portfolio among the many he handled as the deputy chief minister, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged role in the "scam". The ED arrested him in a money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9 after questioning him in Tihar Jail. Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28.

Cause Title: Manish Sisodia vs. CBI [SLP(Crl.) No.8167/23 & 8188/23]