Delhi HC Adjourns Manish Sisodia's Bail Plea As CBI, ED Seek More Time To File Reply, Next Hearing On Monday
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday sought more time to file reply to Maish Sisodia's bail petition in the Delhi High Courtin connection to the Delhi Liquor Policy case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday sought more time to file reply to Maish Sisodia's bail petition in the Delhi High Court in connection to the Delhi Liquor Policy case. The Delhi High Court adjourned the matter till next Monday, after more time was sought by both CBI and Enforcement Directorate to file responses.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court gave CBI and ED four more days to file responses and directed the investigation agencies to serve copies of their responses to Sisodia's lawyer by Monday.
The bench noted that it had issued notice to ED and CBI to file responses on May 3 and they have not filed the response yet.
"How much more time you need?" the court asked ED and CBI's counsel.
The counsel appearing for CBI and ED told the court that the investigation officers are neck deep in investigation and need more time to file response and ED is also preparing a supplementary chargesheet as well.
Counsel appearing for Sisodia however objected to this and told the court that ED is contradicting its own statements in the Supreme Court. "They say that they will complete the trial in six months. But, here they keep asking for more time."
ED's counsel disputed this argument and said that Sisodia's counsel is making false statements.
Manish Sisodia had moved the high court after Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court rejected his bail plea.
The Delhi court in its order rejecting Sisodia's bail plea observed that there is a concerted effort by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister 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.”
A special bench of Justice Kaveri Baweja dismissed Sisodia's both interim and regular bail petition. "In the backdrop of the above discussion and the factual position which emerges from the court record, the plea of the Applicant that the proceedings have been delayed or protracted or that the case is proceedings at a snail’s pace are rejected. The so called delay caused in progression of the case is also clearly on account of reasons attributable to the applicant. "
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 Delhi 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.
Last week, Sisodia moved high court against this order of the Delhi court.
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