Delhi Excise Policy Scam: SC rejects bail to Manish Sisodia

By: Pune Pulse

October 30, 2023

Pune: On October 30, the Supreme Court (SC) declined bail to Manish Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi, in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy Scam.

This decision was made in response to separate cases filed by the CBI and ED against Sisodia regarding the aforementioned scam.

As per the information provided, justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti, who had previously reserved their decision on October 17, delivered the verdict.

In announcing the decision, Justice Sanjiv Khanna stated that preliminary evidence suggested a transfer of 338 crores and therefore the bail application was rejected, as per reports.

The trial of the former Delhi deputy CM, who was arrested by the CBI on February 26 for his alleged involvement in the ‘scam’, must be concluded within six to eight months as directed by the Supreme Court.

As per the information received, if the trial progresses slowly, the AAP leader will have the option to reapply for bail within three months. Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28 and has been in custody since then.

In March, the ED arrested him in a money laundering case related to the CBI FIR, following his interrogation in Tihar Jail. However, on May 30, the Delhi High Court denied him bail in the CBI case, citing his influential status and the potential to impact witnesses.

On July 3, he was denied bail in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the city government’s excise policy. The high court considered the charges against him to be highly serious. It is important to note that the Delhi government introduced the policy on November 17, 2021, but subsequently abandoned it in September 2022 following corruption allegations.