Supreme Court Grants Bail To AAP Leader Manish Sisodia After 18 Months of Detention In Excise Policy Case

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case, citing concerns over his prolonged detention.

Sisodia had been imprisoned for 18 months, and a bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan highlighted that his right to a speedy trial had been compromised by both the trial court and the High Court.

Background: Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26 last year under the Prevention of Corruption Act, followed by his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 9 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

After the Delhi High Court rejected his bail plea in May, Sisodia appealed to the Supreme Court. On October 10, the Supreme Court dismissed his application but expressed doubts about some of the charges brought against him by the ED.

The court allowed Sisodia to reapply for bail if the trial continued to be delayed. On June 4, a vacation bench declined to hear his bail plea after the government assured that the chargesheet would be filed within a month. Sisodia’s latest bail application was based on the grounds of the trial’s delayed commencement.