Supreme Court Postpones Hearing on Sisodia's Bail Plea to August 5

The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of AAP leader Manish Sisodia's bail plea to August 5. The extension follows a request from the Enforcement Directorate for more time to file a reply. Sisodia is challenging a Delhi High Court order that denied him bail in an excise policy money laundering case.

The Supreme Court on Monday postponed the hearing of AAP leader Manish Sisodia's bail petition to August 5. This comes after Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), sought more time to file a reply. The court granted the ED until Thursday to submit the response.

Simultaneously, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Supreme Court that its reply had been filed but was not on record. The bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, adjourned the matter after directing that the CBI's reply be recorded. ASG SV Raju also raised preliminary objections, noting that it was the second special leave petition for the same order and could not be challenged again.

Senior Advocate AM Singhvi contested the ASG's submission on behalf of Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi. Sisodia has petitioned the Supreme Court to revive his bail plea, citing delays in the trial's commencement. He challenges the Delhi High Court's May 21 order that dismissed his bail request.

Previously, on June 4, the top court had disposed of Sisodia's plea after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that the investigation would conclude and the final charge sheet would be filed by July 3, 2024. The court also permitted Sisodia to renew his bail application after the charge sheet filing.

Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in February 2023, accused of irregularities in Delhi's now-scrapped excise policy. The former Deputy Chief Minister is alleged to have played a crucial role in the criminal conspiracy surrounding the policy's creation and implementation. He remains in judicial custody as investigations continue.