On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court denied bail to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the defunct excise policy case, citing his “great misuse of power and breach of public trust.”
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, presiding over the case, rejected Sisodia’s bail plea, stating that the prosecution had made a prima facie case of money laundering under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The judge also remarked that Sisodia’s actions represented a “great betrayal of democratic principles.”
Sisodia Used ‘Deceptive Methods’
The court noted that Sisodia used deceptive methods to create an illusion of public support for the Delhi excise policy, which was actually designed to benefit a select few, constituting a form of corruption.
During the proceedings, it was highlighted that Sisodia had destroyed crucial evidence, including electronic evidence. According to a Bar and Bench report, this included two mobile phones that were damaged. The court concluded that Sisodia had not established a sufficient case for bail.
Previous Bail Attempts
This recent High Court appeal follows the trial court’s dismissal of Sisodia’s bail request in both the CBI and ED cases. This marks his second attempt at securing bail after previous applications were rejected last year. His bail plea in the CBI case was dismissed on March 31, 2022, and the trial court rejected his bail application in the ED case on April 28, 2023.
Ongoing Custody
Manish Sisodia has been in custody since February 2023. He is under investigation by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Sisodia is accused of manipulating the policy to favor certain license holders, resulting in “illegal” gains and allegations of money laundering.
