The Supreme Court has granted bail to Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Sisodia had been in custody since February 26, 2023, after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged role in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes as a significant relief for Sisodia, who had been denied bail by the trial court and the Delhi High Court earlier. The court has directed Sisodia to furnish a personal bond of ₹5 lakh and two sureties of the same amount.
Sisodia’s lawyers had argued that he was not involved in any financial transactions related to the excise policy and that the allegations against him were baseless. They also pointed out that Sisodia had cooperated fully with the investigation and had made himself available for questioning whenever required.
The CBI had opposed Sisodia’s bail plea, arguing that he could influence witnesses and tamper with evidence if released on bail. However, the Supreme Court rejected these arguments and observed that Sisodia’s detention was not justified.
Sisodia’s bail has been seen as a major setback for the CBI and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had been targeting him and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the excise policy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, saying that it was a victory for justice and democracy.