Delhi HC To Hear Manish Sisodia's Bail Plea In Delhi Liquor Policy Case Tomorrow

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has moved Delhi High Court seeking bail in the Delhi Liquor Policy Case after the trial court rejected his interim as well as regular bail plea on Tuesday.

Court said that there is a concerted effort by Manish Sisodia and other co-accused to delay the trial in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. ( Image Source :PTI )

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has moved Delhi High Court seeking bail in the Delhi Liquor Policy Case after the trial court rejected his interim as well as regular bail plea on Tuesday. The court will hear the matter tomorrow.

In a major jolt to AAP leader, a special bench of Justice Kaveri Baweja on Tuesday dismissed Sisodi'a both interim and regular bail petition. While rejecting bail to Manish Sisodia, the court made several scathing remarks and observations on his conduct.

The court order said that there is a concerted effort by Manish Sisodia and other co-accused to delay the trial in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. The court in a detailed order uploaded on Wednesday said that the steady progression of the case, despite the apparent attempts to slow down its progress, cannot, by any standards, be equated with “snail's pace.”

The court in its order observed, "In the light of the above observations based on record of the case, it is thus apparent that the Applicant individually, and along with different accused have been filing one or the other application/making oral submissions frequently, some of them frivolous, that too on a piecemeal basis, apparently as a concerted effort for accomplishing the shared purpose of causing delay in the matter. The argument of the Applicant that he has not contributed to delay in proceedings or that the case has been proceeding at a “snail's pace”, therefore, cannot be accepted. The steady progression of the case, despite the apparent attempts to slow down its  progress, cannot, by any standards, be equated with “snail's pace”. "

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court while rejecting Sisodia’s bail in October 2023 had said that he can move a fresh bail application before the trial court if the trial is protracted and proceeds at a “snail’s pace” in the next three months.

The court in its order also rejected the prayer for bail by Sisodia on the grounds that his wife is suffering with Multiple Sclerosis and a severe renal and gastro disease which is a neuro­degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system and leads to severe disability to see clearly, write, speak or walk.

Sisodia sought interim bail to take care of his ailing wife as he is the sole caretaker for her. The court rejected this arguement and said Sisodia had a son who could take care of the wife. It was submitted that her disease has been continuing since the past 23 years and due to the said disease, she has been under continuous medical treatment and care since then and that Sisodia is the only attendant for his wife who must remain present to take care of her.