Excise policy cases: SC grants bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, noting that he has been in custody for 17 months.
A bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said Sisodia has been in custody for 17 months and trial has not yet commenced, depriving him of the right to speedy trial.
The bench said it would be a travesty of justice to relegate him to the trial court for seeking bail in these cases.
The top court said it is high time that the trial courts and high courts recognise that the principle of bail is a rule and jail is an exception.
It directed that Sisodia be released on bail on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh with two sureties of the like amount.
The former deputy chief minister of Delhi was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023 for the purported irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him in the money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023.
He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023.
Sisodia had sought bail contending that he has been in custody for 17 months and the trial against him has not yet started.
The ED and the CBI had opposed his bail pleas.
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K'taka Home Minister seeks report on M'luru Police Commissioner following allegations of harassment
Bengaluru:Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara has directed theDirector General and Inspector General of Police(DGP ad IG) to submit a report in connection with allegations of harassment levelled by Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) SP S.S. Kashi against Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Reddy, as well as by DCRE Inspector T.R. Srinivas against senior officials.
The Minister confirmed the development while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday, April 21.
“I have noticed reports in the media regarding the allegations involving police officers. The DCRE inspector has made several allegations, and SP S.S. Kashi has also written a letter. I have asked the DGP to submit a report on both cases. Action will be taken based on the findings,” he said.
Referring to the Enforcement Directorate raids on the residences linked to the children of MLA N.A. Harris, he said the reasons behind the searches were not yet known. “The ED officials should clarify the purpose of the raids and what was found. Usually, they issue press statements. Until then, any comments would be premature and irrelevant,” he added.
Speaking on the Bitcoin scam, the Minister said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted in the state and that the probe was in its final stages.
“The case has national and international dimensions. Information is being gathered on multiple aspects, and a final report will be submitted. Officials have indicated that the investigation is nearing completion. However, instructions have already been given to file an interim charge sheet,” he said.
