New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. Sisodia had been in custody for 17 months.
A Bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan heard the matter. Justice Gavai noted that the court had initially considered the June 4 order. The bench observed that when Sisodia approached the apex court, seven months had passed since the court’s first order.
The Supreme Court took note of the fact that a chargesheet would be filed and the trial would commence.
ALSO READ: Delhi Police arrest ISIS-linked terrorist Rizwan Ali – THE NEW INDIAN
“Liberty was given to revive the plea after the filing of the chargesheet. Now relegating Sisodia to the trial court and then the High Court would be like playing a game of snakes and ladders,” Justice Gavai remarked.
The Apex Court also noted that Sisodia filed only 13 applications in the CBI case and 14 applications in the ED case, all of which were allowed by the trial court. A few of these were challenged before the High Court as well.
The bench emphasized that it cannot be said that the trial in the matter was delayed due to Sisodia. The court then granted bail to Sisodia, with the condition that he must appear before a local police station every Monday.
In the excise policy case, Sisodia was previously arrested similarly. After being questioned in Tihar jail, the ED arrested him on March 9, 2023.