Excise policy: Delhi HC to deliver verdict on bail pleas of Manish Sisodia in CBI, ED cases tomorrow
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court is likely to deliver its verdict on the bail pleas of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases related to alleged excise policy scam on Tuesday (May 21).
As per the cause list updated on the website of the High Court, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma is likely to pronounce the orders on both bail pleas at 5 PM on Tuesday.
High Court on May 10 reserved its verdict on Sisodia’s bail pleas
Justice Sharma had on May 10 reserved order on Sisodia’s bail pleas after hearing arguments from the AAP leader and central investigating agencies – Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Sisodia has challenged trial court order rejecting his bail pleas in both cases.
The ED, during the arguments on the bail pleas of Sisodia, told the High Court that it would make AAP an accused in its next supplementary chargesheet in the money laundering case and the agency filed a chargesheet on May 17 naming AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP an accused.
There is no question of early conclusion of trial, Sisodia told High Court urging grant of bail
Sisodia’s counsel urged the High Court to grant bail to him in both cases, submitting that he is lodged in jail for over 14 months and investigation is still proceeding and the central agencies are still arresting people in the ED and CBI cases and there is no question of early conclusion of the trial.
CBI, ED opposed Sisodia’s bail pleas
CBI and ED opposed Sisodia’s plea for grant of bail to him and accused him and other co-accused of filing multiple applications with the intention of delaying the trial and the process of framing of charges in the case. The agencies also told the High Court that Sisodia is a powerful man, his party, AAP, is in power in the national capital and he can tamper with evidence and pressurise the bureaucrats if he is released on bail.
Sisodia was arrested in February last year
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI first in the corruption case in February last year and later he was arrested in the money laundering case from Tihar Jail.
Sisodia’s bail pleas in both cases were earlier dismissed by the trial court, Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. However, the apex court, while denying him bail in both case in October last year, granted him liberty to move the trial court and file a fresh bail plea in next three months if there is a change of circumstances or trial in the cases are protracted and proceeds at a snail’s pace.