Delhi Liquor Policy Scam Case: Supreme Court declines to grant bail to Manish Sisodia

On June 04, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing an SLP (special leave petition) against the order of the Delhi High Court which rejected the second bail plea filed by former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case connected to the Delhi liquor policy scam. ED (Directorate of Enforcement) and CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) had registered cases against him. The vacation bench constituting Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Sandeep Mehta disposed of Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia’s bail plea. The decision was passed after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the SC that the final chargesheet would be filed on or before 03.07.2024; therefore, the SC bench granted time till July 03 to file the chargesheet. Also, it gave liberty to Manish Sisodia to raise the plea afresh after filing of the chargesheet. The top court’s order read, “We will not say anything. We will dispose with liberty to revive your prayers. We are not saying anything on merits and all contentions are left open. In both the CBI and ED cases the order is (common)...It would suffice to dispose of these petitions with liberty to the petitioner to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final complaint/Charge-sheet as assured by the learned Solicitor General. Needless to state that in the event of such an application being filed, the same would be considered on its own merits ... Accordingly, these petitions stand disposed of.” During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Dr. AM Singhvi appeared for the petitioner (Manish Sisodia) whereas Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta appeared for the ED and CBI.