SC notice to probe bodies on Sisodia bail pleas in liquor policy case
This story was originally published at 13:08 IST on 16 July 2024
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NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate regarding former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's bail petitions in the liquor policy case. The top court listed the case for hearing on Jul 29.
Advocate Vivek Jain, appearing for Sisodia, said the trial in the liquor policy case is going at "snail's pace". He said Sisodia has been inside the jail for 16 months and the trial is going at the same speed as in October 2023. The top court had given Sisodia liberty in October to come back to the apex court if the liquor policy case does not progress in the trial court, said Jain.
On Jun 4, the apex court had refused bail to Sisodia and gave the Aam Aadmi Party leader the liberty to revive his petition after the probe agencies file the final chargesheets in the case. Sisodia had moved the apex court against Delhi High Court's May 21 order which rejected his bail petitions.
The high court had said the Delhi liquor policy case represents grave misuse of power and breach of trust. The material collected in the case shows that the former deputy chief minister subverted the process of making the excise policy by fabricating public feedback to suit his goal, the court said. Sisodia used deceptive ways to show the liquor policy had public support. However, in reality, the policy was framed to enrich a few individuals, the high court said, adding that this was a form of corruption.
The CBI had filed a chargesheet against Sisodia under sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating and criminal conspiracy and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the money-laundering angle in the case, had filed a chargesheet naming Sisodia as the "main accused".
The Delhi government announced a new excise policy in November 2021, allowing private companies to distribute liquor in the national capital. The policy was later withdrawn following allegations of cartelisation and monopoly.
The investigating agencies alleged that Sisodia made changes to the policy without the approval of Delhi's lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor referred the matter to the CBI, which then filed a first information report. The CBI arrested Sisodia on Feb 26, 2023. On Mar 9, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate also arrested Sisodia after questioning him inside Tihar Jail.
In March, the top court had dismissed curative petitions filed by Sisodia against denial of bail in the case. The current bail petitions in the apex court constituted the second round of litigation by Sisodia seeking bail. End
Reported by Surya Tripathi
Edited by Namrata Rao
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