Former Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia was denied bail by the Delhi High Court in the cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to the liquor policy case.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Tuesday rejected the bail plea after noting that the view prosecution had made prima facie case of money laundering under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court added that Manish Sisodia’s conduct amounts to great betrayal of democratic principles.
It also observed that the AAP leader indulged in acts of destruction of crucial evidence, including electronic evidence. Considering this, the single-judge bench referred to two mobile phones which were claimed to be damaged.
The Delhi High Court also took into account the fact that Manish Sisodia was holding an important position in the Delhi government and heading multiple portfolios and that he being a senior leader of AAP is an influential person. The court ruled that it is of opinion that the petitioner has not been able to make out a case for the grant of bail in his favour.
Recently, the trial court had rejected Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in both the CBI and ED cases against him, leading to the present plea before the High Court. Notably, this is the second round of bail applications filed by the former Deputy Chief Minister.
Last year, one round of bail applications was rejected. Manish Sisodia’s bail plea in the CBI case was rejected on March 31, 2023. Later on April 28, 2023, the trial court dismissed his bail application in the ED case.
Following, the Delhi High Court upheld the trial court orders and the same was upheld by the Supreme Court as well in October 2023. However, this time, the Supreme Court had said that Manish Sisodia could file for bail again if the trial progressed at a slow pace. The former Deputy Chief Minister then moved a second round of bail pleas.
Manish Sisodia has been in custody since February 26, 2023. He is being investigated by both the CBI and the ED in relation to the Delhi excise policy case. The matter involves allegations that AAP led Delhi government officials had connived to grant liquor licenses to certain traders in exchange for bribes. The accused officials are alleged to have tweaked the excise policy to benefit certain liquor sellers.