Supreme Court Seeks CBI and ED Response in Manish Sisodia’s Bail Plea, Notes Seriousness of Wife’s Medical Condition
New Delhi: CBI has now received notices from the Supreme Court regarding the Manish Sisodia case. The plea pertains to the Delhi excise policy scam. The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bela M Trivedi, and Ujjal Bhuyan, also took note of the serious nature of Sisodia’s wife’s medical condition and advised him to file an interim plea for medical bail.
Justice Khanna acknowledged his awareness of the progressive disease affecting Sisodia’s wife and suggested that an application for interim bail be submitted, emphasizing the severity of the condition. Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Sisodia, mentioned that the medical condition could result in mild paralysis, to which Justice Khanna clarified that it is not a mild condition but rather more serious, indicating a 50 percent disability.
The Supreme Court directed the CBI and ED to file their responses and issued notices in both cases. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on July 28 to address any interim directions.
Sisodia, facing allegations in the excise policy scam case, approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court denied him bail in both the CBI and ED cases. The Delhi High Court had previously rejected his bail plea on July 3 in the ED case and on May 30 in the CBI case relating to the same scam.
The excise policy scam allegedly involves collusion between Delhi government officials and certain traders to grant liquor licenses in exchange for bribes. The central agencies contend that the excise policy was manipulated to favor specific traders, resulting in kickbacks. The CBI investigation was initiated based on a report by the Delhi Chief Secretary, following a recommendation by Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena.
Sisodia argues that the policy changes were approved by the LG and that the CBI is targeting the policy decisions of an elected government. He asserts that no money has been traced back to him and suggests that the agencies are re-evaluating a liquor policy formulated and approved by the elected government and the LG of Delhi.