New Delhi, December 11
Excise policy case: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday relaxed the bail conditions of AAP leader Manish Sisodia, under which he is facing corruption and money laundering cases related to the Delhi excise policy. He had to report twice a week to the investigating officer. The Supreme Court bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan relaxed the conditions and said that these conditions are not necessary.
The bench said, “The petitioner should attend the trial proceedings regularly.” Directorate (ED) had issued a notice seeking response to the applications.
Earlier on August 9, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam. The court termed the action of keeping them in jail for 17 months without trial as wrong and said that this long imprisonment has deprived the accused of the right to a speedy trial.
The Supreme Court had then imposed conditions that he would appear before the investigating officer every Monday and Thursday between 10 am and 11 am. During the hearing of the case on November 22, his lawyer Singhvi said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has appeared before the investigating officers 60 times.
The former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi was arrested by both the CBI and the ED in connection with the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam on February 26, 2023, for alleged irregularities in the repeal and implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22. The following month on March 9, 2023, the ED arrested him in a money laundering case arising out of a CBI FIR. He resigned from the Delhi Cabinet on February 28, 2023. -News-Patiala