Delhi HC Dismisses Manish Sisodia's Bail Plea In ED's Case Over Excise Policy

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order on Sisodia’s bail plea.

Delhi High Court pronounces judgment on Manish Sisodia's bail plea

Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s bail plea on Monday was rejected by the Delhi High Court in the alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order on Sisodia’s bail plea and also dismissed the bail petitions of Vijay Nair, ex-communication in charge of Aam Aadmi Party, Abhishek Boinpally (Hyderabad Based Businessman), Binoy Babu Binoy, (manager with a liquor company M/S Pernod Ricard) in connection with the case. 

The Aam Aadmi Party leader was first arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on February 26 for his alleged role in the scam and has been in custody since then. The high court has already denied him bail in the CBI case on May 30.

Sisodia was arrested on March 9 in the case lodged by Enforcement Directorate and is presently in judicial custody. 

On June 2, the high court had reserved its order on the bail plea of Sisodia, who has sought bail on various grounds, including the deteriorating health of his wife who is suffering from multiple sclerosis.

The ED had, though, opposed his bail plea along with other accused persons. 

As per the CBI and ED, the investigating agencies in this case, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours were extended to licence holders.

Sisodia had challenged the March 31 order of the trial court which had dismissed his bail plea, saying he was prima facie the "architect" of the alleged scam and had played the "most important and vital role" in the criminal conspiracy related to alleged payment of advance kickbacks of Rs 90-100 crore meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government.

The policy was implemented on November 17, 2021 by the Delhi government but was withdrawn by the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.

On May 30, the court had dismissed the bail plea of Sisodia in the excise policy scam being probed by the CBI, saying he is an influential person who could influence witnesses, who are mostly public servants, and the allegations against him are very serious in nature.