Former Delhi deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia arrived at his residence in the national capital on Saturday to meet his ailing wife after Delhi High Court yesterday granted him bail for seven hours. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma emphasised that Sisodia should refrain from engaging with the media or meeting anyone other than his family during this visit. Additionally, he will not have access to a phone or the internet.
The court also directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to provide a status report on Sisodia's interim bail plea by the following evening.
Furthermore, the Court reserved its verdict on Sisodia's plea for interim bail, which was filed citing his wife's medical condition. The regular bail plea filed by Sisodia in connection with the money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam was also held in reserve.
Opposing the plea for interim bail, the ED argued against it. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the ED, suggested that Sisodia is allowed to visit his wife under police escort. The ASG highlighted that Sisodia had previously held numerous ministerial portfolios and did not make time to visit his wife, Bar and Bench reported. The ASG also mentioned that Sisodia recently withdrew an interim bail plea, only to present a similar one shortly afterward, without any significant changes in his wife's condition.
In the ED case, Sisodia was previously denied bail by a special court on April 28, and today the verdict was reserved on the appeal against that decision.
Earlier, on May 30, the Delhi High Court had denied Sisodia bail in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to the same scam. Justice Sharma stated that Sisodia, being a powerful figure, had the potential to influence witnesses if released on bail.
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 in connection with the liquor policy case and subsequently arrested by the ED on March 9.