Manish Sisodia moves Supreme court for relaxation of bail condition in Delhi Excise Policy case

The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia's plea seeking relaxation of the bail condition requiring him to mark his attendance before the investigating officer every Monday and Thursday. [Manish Sisodia vs Directorate of Enforcement]

A Bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan also said that it will decide the matter at the next hearing itself without adjourning the case.

"Issue notice, returnable in two weeks. In addition to the usual mode, liberty is granted to the petitioner to serve notice through the Central Agency" the Court ordered.

"He is a respectable person. He has already appeared 60 times. There is no such condition for any other accused," Senior Advocate AM Singhvi said on behalf of Sisodia.

He sought an earlier date for hearing, saying that the other side will seek adjournment during the next hearing.

The Bench then made it clear that the matter will be decided at the next hearing itself.

"We make it clear we will decide the application on next date," it orally said.

The Court had in August this year granted bail to Sisodia in the cases registered by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy.

The Court had allowed his plea after noting that the prolonged delay in trial violated the right to speedy trial which is a facet of liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The bail was granted subject to the following conditions:

- bail bonds for a sum of ₹10,00,000 with two sureties of the like amount;

- surrender of his passport;

- report to the investigating officer (IO) on every Monday and Thursday between 10-11 AM.

Sisodia has sought relaxation of the last condition.

Sisodia was in custody from February 26, 2023 until he got bail in August this year.

The case against him and other AAP leaders involves allegations that the excise policy was tweaked to benefit certain liquor sellers in exchange for bribes that were used to fund the party's campaign for elections in Goa.

Sisodia had filed several bail applications in the matter initially, to no avail before he was eventually granted bail in August.

Sisodia was also represented by advocates Vivek Jain, Mohd Irshad, Suchitra Kumbhat, Amit Bhandari, Rajat Jain, and Sadiq Noor.

[Read order]