New Delhi [India]: Opposition party leaders on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court decision to grant bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the excise policy irregularities case.
CPI General Secretary D Raja said, “We welcome it… now the judiciary itself has started questioning the ED and the investigation conducted by it and this is a slap on the face of the ED.”
“Finally, there is some semblance of justice, more needs to be done. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has still not got bail…The law does not insist on jail…Everybody has the right to get bail,” said DMK MP Kanimozhi
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu said, “Every criminal including a murderer and a rapist also gets bail.”
Earlier today, the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan granted bail to Manish Sisodia in the excise policy irregularities cases.
While granting bail, the court has imposed various conditions including surrendering the passport and not influencing witnesses.
The top court was hearing Sisodia’s appeal challenging the Delhi High Court order that dismissed his bail plea in the cases being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the probe agencies, had raised apprehension that witnesses may be influenced. ASG Raju said that some important witnesses can be examined. He further added that these witnesses could be influenced. He also said that there is evidence that he has destroyed phone records. ASG had blamed Sisodia for filing various miscellaneous applications related to the supply of unrelated documents. He also said that the trial could have proceeded irrespective of further investigation.
Senior Advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, had said that seventeen months are already over which is almost half of the minimum possible sentence in the case. He has also countered probe agencies’ allegations on profit margin and said that it was the cabinet decisions taken after deliberations with many officials including then LG. ASG Raju on Monday stated that one cannot arbitrarily increase the profit margins without reason. He has Earlier, further added that Sisodia is not an innocent person picked up for political reasons but he is neck-deep in the scam.
He further added that there is evidence pointing to his involvement. He further said that he was deputy Chief Minister with 18 portfolios and responsible for all cabinet decisions. On June 4, the top court also gave him the liberty to revive his prayer afresh after filing the final charge sheet. In February 2023, Sisodia was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of now-scrapped Delhi’s new excise policy.
The policy was withdrawn amid allegations of foul play by the opposition. Sisodia is currently in judicial custody. According to the CBI, Sisodia had played the most vital role in the criminal conspiracy and he had been deeply involved in the formulation as well as the implementation of the said policy to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the said conspiracy.