Supreme Court refuses interim bail to Manish Sisodia and adjourns bail applications till September 4

On August 04, 2023, the Supreme Court of India was hearing interim bail pleas filed by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the case investigated by the two central probe agencies, CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and ED (Enforcement Directorate). Manish Sisodia was charged with corruption and money laundering for alleged irregularities in the implementation of a now-scrapped liquor policy in the national capital. The bench, Justice SVN Bhatti and Justice Sanjiv Khanna adjourned the bail applications till September 4, 2023. The plea for interim bail was raised by Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi on the humanitarian grounds to allow Sisodia to visit his wife because she was suffering from an illness for the past 20 years. SA further added that she is suffering from a degenerative disease and was admitted to hospital in June and July. Following this, SA Singhvi pointed out that there is no one else at home to take care of her as their only child is abroad and she has vision problems and walking difficulties. The bench stated that “This is a steady disease… We will take it up after some time. When we hear regular bail, we will examine.” During the proceedings, Justice Khanna told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju that “When you argue regular bail, I want a clear-cut picture of how the money trail was established. From the affidavit, it wasn’t clear”. He further told ASG, “This disease has its own consequences. There are sometimes conditions which come back. Just take care of that”. In this context, the bench said “So long as she is going to a reputed doctor, it is fine… Should a doctor be changed because you want that?... by no stretch…” After hearing this, the bench dismissed the interim bail plea and refused to grant bail to Manish Sisodia.