SC relaxes Sisodia’s bail rider to appear before probe agencies twice a week

The Supreme Court on Wednesday relaxed bail conditions of AAP leader Manish Sisodia that required him to report to the CBI and ED investigating officers twice a week in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the Delhi excise policy scam.

A Bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan relaxed the conditions saying these were not necessary. They, however, said, “The petitioner (Sisodia) shall regularly attend the trial.”

The top court, on August 9, granted him bail in the corruption and money laundering cases, saying long incarceration for 17 months without trial had deprived him of his right to speedy trial.

“We find that, on account of a long period of incarceration, running for around 17 months, while the trial has not even commenced, the appellant has been deprived of his right to speedy trial… In a matter pertaining to the life and liberty of a citizen, which is one of the most sacrosanct rights guaranteed by the Constitution, a citizen cannot be made to run from pillar to post,” it had said.

The top court had imposed several conditions, including the one that required him to report to the investigating officers on every Monday and Thursday between 10 and 11 am.

Last month, senior counsel AM Singhvi, on behalf of Sisodia, told the Bench that the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi had appeared before the investigating officers 60 times.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, for his alleged role in the ‘scam’ and he resigned from the Delhi Cabinet two days later.

The ED arrested him in a money-laundering case related to the scam on March 9, 2023, after questioning him in Tihar Jail.