Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia walked out of Tihar Jail on Friday, where a large gathering of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, workers, and supporters had assembled to welcome him. Sisodia was granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam after 17 months in custody.
Upon his release, Sisodia greeted the crowd with slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Inquilab Zindabad." He expressed his gratitude towards his supporters, saying, "Greetings to everyone, to my family that has come here, to my sisters who have been waiting for the last 17 months... I have come out of jail due to your love, God's blessings and power of truth, and biggest of all, the dream of Babasaheb that if any dictatorial government comes to power and puts Opposition leaders behind bars by forming dictatorial laws, then this country's Constitution will protect them. I assure you that with this power of the Constitution, Arvind Kejriwal will come out of jail as well."
Sisodia also acknowledged the efforts of senior Supreme Court advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, stating, "I want to thank Abhishek Manu Singhvi for helping me walk out of the jail."
In an emotional remark, he added, "I was not (alone) in jail for the past 17 months, but every Delhiite and schoolchildren of Delhi were with me emotionally. I want to thank the Supreme Court from the bottom of my heart. It used the power of Constitution to slap the face of dictatorship. I am also grateful to Baba Saheb (Ambedkar)...Ever since this order came in the morning, every inch of my skin has been feeling indebted to Babasaheb. I don't understand how I will pay off this debt to Babasaheb."
"I have not endured the pain in these 17 months, you all have suffered it. I know that the number of people in this country who love me has increased manifold in these 17 months," he added.
Punjab Minister Bram Shanker Sharma-Jimpa, who had travelled from Punjab, expressed his joy over the release. "He was lodged in Tihar Jail and he faced it all very bravely. All workers across India are happy. I have come all the way from Punjab...Everyone was waiting for this. It is a matter of great joy," Sharma-Jimpa remarked, as per ANI.
Security was heightened outside Tihar Jail as AAP supporters gathered in anticipation of Sisodia’s release. The excitement among the party workers was palpable, with many expressing their support for the leader.
Manish Sisodia Kept In Jail For 17 Months On False Charges: Atishi
Earlier in the day, Delhi Education Minister Atishi, while inaugurating a new school in the Nasirpur area of Dwarka, broke into tears during her address. She linked the inauguration of the school to the release of Sisodia, who had laid its foundation. “The school we are inaugurating today was a project initiated by Sisodia, and today, on the day of its inauguration, he has been granted bail. They kept him in jail for 17 months on false charges, and today he has been granted bail. Today is the day that the man behind Delhi's education revolution has been granted bail,” Atishi said, struggling to hold back her tears.
Atishi further alleged that Sisodia was imprisoned because of his efforts to improve education in Delhi, pointing out that he had allocated 25 per cent of the budget to education. “Today, truth has triumphed, education has won, and the children have won,” she added.