New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear on August 5 pleas filed by AAP leader Manish Sisodia, seeking bail in corruption and money-laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
The matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told the bench that while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed its response on Sisodia’s plea, it had not come on record.
He said the counter affidavit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was ready and it would be filed soon.
Raju also raised preliminary objections on Sisodia’s pleas and said it was the second special leave petition challenging the same Delhi High Court order.
“The same order can’t be challenged twice,” the law officer said.
Sisodia had earlier moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court’s May 21 order dismissing his bail pleas. He had challenged in the high court a trial court’s April 30 order rejecting his bail applications in the two cases.
He was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, for his alleged role in the liquor policy case. The 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.
During the hearing, Raju referred to the June 4 order of the top court, refusing to entertain Sisodia’s bail pleas in the cases lodged by the CBI and the ED.
The top court, however, had said Sisodia could revive his petitions for bail after the ED and the CBI filed their final prosecution complaint and charge sheet, respectively, in the cases involving alleged corruption and money laundering.
A prosecution complaint is the ED’s equivalent of a charge sheet.
“In light of the said submissions made and having regard to the fact that the period of ‘six to eight’ months’ fixed by this court by order dated October 30, 2023, having not come to an end, it would suffice to dispose of these petitions with liberty to the petitioner to revive his prayer afresh after filing of the final complaint/charge sheet, as assured by the solicitor general,” the bench had said.
On Monday, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, termed Raju’s arguments as “absolutely shocking” and said it was very unfortunate for a prosecutor to say this.
The law officer then referred to the October 30 order of the apex court, which had denied him bail in the two cases.
While dismissing his regular bail plea, the top court had given Sisodia the liberty to approach the courts for relief if there was a change in circumstances or the trial got protracted.