Delhi Court Denies Bail to AAP Leader Manish Sisodia in Excise Policy Case

On April 30, 2024, a Delhi court denied bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in the excise policy-linked money laundering case. This marks Sisodia's second bail rejection by Special CBI Judge Kaveri Baweja in both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases.

Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, has been in judicial custody since his arrest by the CBI on February 26, 2023, followed by the ED's arrest on March 9, 2023. He is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail. The court rejected Sisodia's bail pleas, stating that he does not satisfy the requirements for the grant of bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The CBI and ED have alleged irregularities in the modification of the Delhi Excise Policy, including undue favors to license holders, waiving or reducing license fees, and extending licenses without proper approval. The probe agencies claim that the beneficiaries diverted 'illegal' gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books to evade detection.

During the hearing, the CBI prosecutor argued that Sisodia is a powerful person with political clout and that the allegations against him show a prima facie case of destruction of evidence and misuse of power, which could hamper the investigation. The ED maintained that the excise policy would not have been possible without Sisodia's involvement and that its continuation would have made consumers pay hundreds of crores annually.

Why this matters: The denial of bail to Manish Sisodia, a prominent AAP leader, in the high-profile excise policy case has significant political implications. The case has put the AAP government in Delhi under scrutiny and raised questions about alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy.

Sisodia's bail applications have been previously rejected by the trial court, Delhi High Court, and the Supreme Court in both the ED and CBI cases. The Supreme Court has also dismissed his review and curative petitions against the denial of bail. Following the latest bail rejection, Sisodia's legal team plans to approach the Delhi High Court to challenge the order. The case continues to unfold, with the investigation agencies asserting Sisodia's central role in the alleged scam.

Key Takeaways

• Delhi court denies bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in excise policy case
• Sisodia arrested by CBI and ED, accused of irregularities in Delhi excise policy
• Court rejects Sisodia's bail pleas, citing prima facie case of evidence destruction
• Denial of bail has significant political implications for AAP government in Delhi
• Sisodia's legal team plans to challenge the bail rejection order in Delhi High Court